Question

In John Donne's "Devotions XVII", when hearing the tolling of a bell being rung because someone is near death, who does Donne tell the reader that the bell actually rings for?

1) The person who is near death
2) The family of the person who is near death
3) The church
4) All of the above

Answer 1

John Donne believes the tolling bell symbolizes the interconnectedness of all people, and thus it tolls for everyone, not just the individual who is dying or their immediate circle.

Step-by-step explanation:

In John Donne's Devotions upon Emergent Occasions, specifically in Meditation XVII, when the bell tolls indicating someone's impending death, Donne suggests that it tolls not just for the individual, but for everyone.

He writes, 'any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind, and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.' This passage reflects the idea that we are all part of the larger human community, and the loss of one person affects us all.