The Flea

In "The Flea" by John Donne, the paradox that the speaker presents concerns a flea that has bitten both him and the woman he is trying to seduce. According to the speaker's absurd logic, the flea has...

Metaphysical poetry in "The Flea" features the use of conceit, an extended metaphor that likens two very unlike things—in this case, a flea and sexual union. Donne's narrator argues that the mingling...

The rhyme scheme of “The Flea” is aabbccddd. This scheme is used in each of the poem's three stanzas. The structure of the poem consists of three stanzas of nine lines, alternating between iambic...

In "The Flea," John Donne uses the flea as a symbol to argue that physical intimacy is insignificant. He suggests that since their blood has already mingled within the flea, the act of physical union...

In "The Flea," the tone shifts multiple times as the speaker attempts to persuade his beloved. Initially, the tone is calm and pedantic, presenting a logical yet flawed argument about their blood...

In "The Flea," John Donne uses a flea as a metaphor for a sexual relationship to argue that sex is insignificant. The flea, being tiny and insignificant, symbolizes the triviality of sex....

The central theme of John Donne's "The Flea" is the poet's argument for physical intimacy, using the flea as a conceit to trivialize the act. Metaphysically, the poem blends wit and irony, presenting...

The speaker starts the poem by using a metaphor comparing the flea to their "marriage bed and marriage temple." The speaker then describes that they are "twinned" (3) in the flea. Later, he uses...

Donne's treatment of love in "The Flea" contrasts sharply with Elizabethan sonneteers like Spenser and Sidney, who idealized and idolized their beloveds. Instead of placing women on a pedestal, Donne...

In "The Flea," John Donne explores the theme of lust rather than love. The speaker uses the flea, which has bitten both him and the woman, as a metaphor to argue for physical intimacy, claiming their...

In the final stanza of "The Flea," the speaker's argument shifts after the beloved kills the flea. Initially, he argued that the flea's mixing of their blood justified them having sex. After the...

"The Flea" by John Donne uses the metaphor of a flea biting two lovers to argue for their union. The speaker suggests that since their blood is mingled inside the flea, they are metaphorically...

A deconstructive view of "The Flea" examines how Donne uses the flea as a complex symbol of sexual union, blending high and low concepts. The poem's language and imagery highlight the triviality of...

In "The Flea," the speaker's past relationship with the woman is chaste and devoid of sexual involvement. The speaker uses the flea, which has bitten both of them, as a metaphor to argue for a sexual...

The woman triumphs in stanza 3 of John Donne's "The Flea" by killing the flea with her nail, despite the speaker's pleas to spare it. This act symbolizes her rejection of the speaker's advances and...

In "The Flea," Donne uses the flea as a metaphor for sexual union, arguing that since their blood is already mingled in the flea, physical intimacy won't diminish their love. The flea's death...

"The Flea" remains relevant for study due to its clever use of metaphysical conceit and argumentation, showcasing John Donne's wit in persuading his mistress by comparing their mingled blood in a...