Question

Which lines in the poem illustrate that death's power is an illusion?

Sonnet 10
by John Donne

Death, be not proud, though some have called thee
Mighty and dreadful, for thou art not so;
For those whom thou think'st thou dost overthrow
Die not, poor Death, nor yet canst thou kill me.
From rest and sleep, which but thy pictures be,
Much pleasure; then from thee much more must flow,
And soonest our best men with thee do go,
Rest of their bones, and soul's delivery
Thou art slave to fate, chance, kings, and desperate men,
And dost with poison, war, and sickness dwell,
And poppy or charms can make us sleep as well
And better than thy stroke; why swell'st thou then?
One short sleep past, we wake eternally
And death shall be no more; Death, thou shalt die.

Answer 1

In John Donne's 'Sonnet 10,' the illusion of death's power is demonstrated through the lines that tell death not to be proud, depict it as a slave to other forces, and assert the eternal life after death wherein 'Death, thou shalt die.'

Step-by-step explanation:

The lines in John Donne's Sonnet 10 that suggest death's power is an illusion are:

'Death, be not proud, though some have called thee Mighty and dreadful, for thou art not so;'

'Thou art slave to fate, chance, kings, and desperate men,'

'One short sleep past, we wake eternally And death shall be no more; Death, thou shalt die.'

In the first quoted line, Donne speaks directly to death, telling it not to be proud, implying its perceived might and dread are overstated. The second line emphasizes death's lack of autonomy, as it is depicted as subservient or controlled by external forces like fate and human actions. Finally, the last line captures the ultimate powerlessness of death through the promise of eternal life after a 'short sleep,' leading to the paradox that death itself shall die, meaning its perceived power ends with the afterlife where it no longer has any dominion.

Answer 2

The lines in the poem which illustrate that death's power is an illusion are:
A) Mighty and dreadful, for thou art not so; For those whom thou think'st thou dost overthrow.
E) One short sleep past, we wake eternally And death shall be no more; Death, thou shalt die.