A Study of the Canonization of John Donne’s Poetry

The canonization of literary works has always been a popular subject. Canons, on onehand refer to the authoritative texts in the form of letters or other symbols, which are handeddown from previous generations and last long;on the other, it denotes regulations whichrestrict people’s thinking, emotions and behaviors. Therefore, the process of canonizationshould involve the transformation of literary legitimacy, the spirit of the time and the views ofaesthetics. John Donne was a very controversial poet in the 17th century, when someappreciated him and others denigrated him. In the following two hundred years, the 18thcentury and the 19th century, Donne was almost a neglected poet with few peopleremembering him. In the 20th century, however, thanks to Eliot’s utmost endeavor to eulogizeand promote him, Donne’s reputation as a poet rapidly rose and was canonized in a short time.Donne, who was widely accepted and imitated by modern poets, provides infinite inspirationsand stimulation for modern poetry-writing. This thesis aims at finding out the crucial factorscontributing to or condemning his reputation in certain historical periods. Moreover, some keyfactors in the process of canonization, such as readers, environment and intentions wouldhopefully emerge from Donne’s individual experience. That is the central topic andfundamental value of this thesis.This thesis consists of five parts. The first part generalizes the fruitful study of Donne inmodern times, quotes and compares controversial comments proposed by various literaryauthorities and critics in certain periods. Then the definition of canonization is provided andits features are listed. Among them there are three key words deserving our attention, namely,“readers”, “environment” and “purpose”. And we come to the conclusion that the ups anddowns of Donne’s reputation during the several hundred years should be asserted as literarycanonization.Part two focuses on the reasons why Donne was so controversial in the 17th century. Theideological conflicts between the British aristocratic and bourgeois are analyzed in details tosee whose ideas were more harmonious with Donne’s poetry. Nevertheless, as a scienceadvocator and the God’s servant, Donne catered to neither of their tastes by showing bothopen-minded humanity of the Capitalists and the traditional conservativeness of the Feudalists.We then realize that it was his paradoxical attitudes that made him undesirable to either side.As a result, Donne did not achieve the corresponding reputation which his talents trulydeserved.In the third part, Neo-classicism and Romanticism are introduced as the dominant literarycanons in the 18th and the 19th century respectively. Mimetic theories and Expressive theories,as the fundamental theoretical basis of Neo-classicalism and Romanticism, are separatelycompared with Donne’s works so as to find the incompatible qualities among them. Then it isconcluded that Donne’s works could not be canonized under the suppression of the twomighty literary fashions during the two centuries. In addition, the rebellion of Romanticismtowards Neo-classicalism is also demonstrated in order to reason out a universal rule ofcanonization, namely, “establishment through wreck and ruin”.Part four starts with people’s confusion, agony, pessimism and fear after World War I inthe 20th century. The depressing feelings of that era found reflection in Donne’s unique worksof art and Donne was finally understood and appreciated. Later in this part, the subtlerelationship between Donne and Eliot, the master of modern poetry-writing, is explored.Eventually, we infer that the canonization of Donne’s poetry was only one of the many stepsof Eliot’s manipulative strategy of having himself canonized. Therefore, it could beconsidered as a byproduct or a touchstone of Eliot’s own canonization.Part five serves as the conclusion. It first reviews the canonization experience of Donne’spoetry and then takes it as an example to further explore the significance of “readers”,“environment” and “purpose”. At the very end of this thesis, the author states that the inherentqualities of Donne’s works, which echo the universal desires of human beings alsocontributed to the canonization of his poetry.