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Unit4 17th-Century British Poets John Donne(1572-1631) John Milton(1608-1674) John Donne(1572—1631) A Brief History of John Donne John Donne is my favorite poet. He comes from what is known as the metaphysical school of poetry in the Jacobean era(詹姆斯一世时代). This period was just after the time of Shakespeare. The metaphysical poets used a lot of the scientific ideas of the time in their poetry. John Donne was raised as a Roman Catholic in a time when merely being Catholic could get you sent to prison, and harboring(窝藏) a priest anywhere in England could get you executed in very nasty ways. In fact, Donne was a descendant of Sir Thomas Moore, who was executed for his beliefs. Donne studied law at a university, but never received a degree because he wouldn‘t take the oath(宣誓) declaring the King of England as the head of the church. He struggled with the pressures pulling him in the directions of Catholicism and Protestantism(新教教义) as well as his increasing unbelief in any religion for most of his early life. His early love poetry shows his wit, his passion, his ability to love deeply while being distrustful of women in general. His love poems also blend sexual and religious imagery. Donne served as a soldier and a courtier(朝臣) for several years before he finally became an apostate(背教者), meaning he renounced(放弃) his ties with the Catholic church. When under the service of Sir Thomas Egerton, Keeper of the Great Seal, he secretly married Lady Egertons seventeen-year-old niece, Anne More. This got him discharged. Later, King James declared that the only way Donne would advance professionally was through the church. Donne became one of the greatest preachers the world has ever known, and eventually became Dean of St. Paul‘s Cathedral, London. He died in this post in 1631.His religious poetry and his sermons(布道) reflect a completely different side of Donne’s personality. Some scholars divide him into two separate entities: Jack Donne the witty and risqué(有伤风化的) love