Final answer:
The claim that the 'Holy Sonnets' were dedicated to his wife dying of typhoid is false; these sonnets by John Donne are of a religious nature and not dedicated to his wife's illness or death.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement regarding the "Holy Sonnets" being dedicated to his wife dying of typhoid is false. The Holy Sonnets were written by John Donne, a metaphysical poet who wrote them on religious themes, contemplating mortality, divine judgment, and divine love.
There is no historical evidence supporting that these sonnets were dedicated to his wife dying of typhoid. The mix-up might have come from Donne's biography, where he indeed suffered the loss of his wife, Anne More, after she gave birth to their twelfth child, but this was not directly related to the sonnets in question.
When looking at the history of poets and their works, it is crucial to examine their life events, as personal experiences often influence their writings. However, each literary piece and its background should be judged individually and based on accurate historical context.