‘Devotions Upon Emergent Occasions’ is a prose work by the English metaphysical poet and cleric in the Church of England John Donne. It covers death, rebirth and the Elizabethan concept of sickness as a visit from God, reflecting internal sinfulness. Donne wrote the Devotions as he recovered from a serious but unknown illness – believed to be relapsing fever or typhus. Having come close to death, he described the illness he had suffered from and his thoughts throughout his recovery. The Devotions is divided into 23 parts, each consisting of 3 sub-sections, called the ‘meditation’, the ‘expostulation’ and a prayer.
‘Death’s Duel’ is the final sermon delivered by John Donne as the Dean of St. Paul’s Cathedral. The sermon was likely written out in full prior to Donne preaching it as it was subsequently prepared for publication. The act of preaching exhausted Donne. To those he had preached to, it seemed as though he had delivered his own death sermon
About the author
John Donne (1572-1631) was an English poet, scholar, soldier and secretary born into a recusant family, who later became a cleric in the Church of England. Donne is considered the preeminent representative of the metaphysical poets. His poetical works are noted for their metaphorical and sensual style. Donne is also known for his sermons and religious writings.
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