Hero+and+Leander

"Hero and Leander" By: John Donne

//Both robbed of air, we both lie in one ground,// //Both whom one fire had burnt, one water drowned.//

Background: Donne originated from London, England where he was born in 1572. After his death, he was said to be the founder of Metaphysical Poets which is a group of poets who actually somewhat scare the reader through imagery, syntax, and things of the like. He was part of a Roman Catholic family which had a big impact on his life and was the center of a lot of his poetry. By the time he was an early teen, he had studied at both Cambridge University and Oxford University but he did not get a degree from either. When he reached his early twenties, he decided to study law at Lincoln's Inn. He was under pressure to join the Anglican Church which he eventually did. When his younger brother died in prison, he was very sad and that is when he wrote most of his sad and scared poems. Donne then went on to do a two year naval-expedition and then became the secretary for Sir Thomas Egerton. There was then a scandal where Donne married Lady Egerton's sixteen-year-old niece in secret. Donne's new father-in-law was not happy about this and had Donne imprisoned for a short period of time. The couple was basically isolated and after giving birth to their twelfth child, his wife died. He spent more time writing poetry and died in 1630.

Back story: This poem circles around an ancient Greek myth. Hero was a priestess of Aphrodite and she lived in a tower on one side of Hellespont. Leander was a young man who lived on the other side of the waterway. Leander fell deeply in love with Hero one night at a festival, but Hero was not allowed to see Leander because her parents were very protective of her and made her live in a tower and they would never approve of someone from a different city. Leander told Hero that Aphrodite would frown on the fact that Hero was still a virgin seeing as Aphrodite is the goddess of love. Hero agreed that Leander was right and she let him sleep with her. All of that summer, Leander would swim across the waterway to be with Hero and she had a lamp at the tower that would help him find her. As summer came to an end, the weather became stormy and the waves became too much for Leander and he drowned. At the same time, the winds blew out Hero’s light. Hero saw Leander’s body washed up and jumped out of the tower to the rocks below.

Forbidden love is a temptation which when acted upon, has a negative outcome || * One fire burnt- their forbidden love was forbidden not only by Hero’s parents, but Hero was a priestess of Aphrodite and she had done Aphrodite wrong. Although the love was nice while it lasted, they knew it was not allowed and because it was forbidden, the waterway killed Leander while he was trying to  get Hero which made Hero kill herself. The theme of Forbidden love leading to bad consequences is similar to that of //Romeo and Juliet//. || "Google Images." //Google Images//. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Apr. 2014. "Hero and Leander." //Princeton University//. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Apr. 2014. "John Donne Biography." //Bio.com//. A&E Networks Television, n.d. Web. 02 Apr. 2014. "John Donne." //Poetry Foundation//. Poetry Foundation, n.d. Web. 02 Apr. 2014. "John Donne." //Poets.org//. Academy of American Poets, n.d. Web. 02 Apr. 2014. "Myth Monday - Hero and Leander." //About.com Ancient / Classical History//. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Apr. 2014.
 * Elements of TIME || Examples from the text || Impact/Explanation ||
 * Theme:
 * One water drown-they are both dead
 * One Water drown- representation of society as a unit
 * One Water drown- representation of Hero's parent's not approving of their love || Hero and Leander loved each other deeply; however, the love
 * Imagery || * Visual- "We both lie in one ground"
 * Visual- "One water drowned" Drowned has a negative connotation, but it could be seen as positive because the lovers get to be together.
 * Visual/Kinesthetic- "Both robbed of air" Two people not being able to breathe, but also the feel of having air taken away
 * Visual/Kinesthetic- "One fire had burnt" Two people being burnt by a fire (we know that it is a metaphor for their love which was the candle that burnt out, but their love was a fire that had ultimately lead to their death) but also, the feeling of a fire || This poem is basically made up of imagery. The imagery in this poem allows the reader to understand the story of Hero and Leander. Also, all of the imagery shows that their love was not easy and the overall impact is that the imagery helps enhance the story. ||
 * Meter || * Two lines
 * One stanza
 * End of each line rhymes
 * Both lines start with the word "both"
 * Four parts || The poem being in two lines can symbolize the two lovers; however, the one stanza symbolizes the one love. The fact that the words "ground" and "drowned" rhyme makes the poem rather easier to read and makes it follow some sort of pattern. Both lines beginning with the word "both" just intensifies the unity of the two lovers. The four parts of the poem give it some form of structure which makes it easier to read. ||
 * Emotion || * Sadness
 * Confusion
 * Love
 * Happiness || Through the intense form of imagery through the poem, feelings of sadness are emitted because it is obvious that two people have died. Confusion is emitted to those who do not know the story of Hero and Leander. Love and Happiness are also emitted because although the two lovers died, they get to be together. These emotions allow the reader to better understand the story of Hero and Leander. ||