Death's Duel

Death's Duel is the final sermon delivered by John Donne as the Dean of St. Paul's Cathedral. Donne received notice to preach the sermon on the first Friday of Lent (February 12, 1631[1] ) and preached the sermon on February 25, 1631.[2] The sermon was likely written out in full prior to Donne preaching it as it was subsequently prepared for publication.[1] The act of preaching exhausted Donne. To those he had preached to, it seemed as though he had delivered his own death sermon.[2] The sermon was entered in the Stationers' Register on September 30, 1631, although not with its title which first appeared in print along with a 1632 date.[3] Donne died on March 31, 1631.

Content

In Death's Duel, Donne returns to the themes found in many of his works, particularly that of death and resurrection. He confronts the physical reality of death before moving to the idea of the final resurrection. He ultimately discusses the life of Jesus Christ and that if he could confront the horrors of dying for mankind, than so can we.

References

  1. 1 2 Bald, R.C. (1970). John Donne: A Life. Oxford: Oxford University Press. p. 525.
  2. 1 2 Bald, R.C. (1970). John Donne: A Life. Oxford: Oxford University Press. p. 526.
  3. ↑ Bald, R.C. (1970). John Donne: A Life. Oxford: Oxford University Press. p. 529.
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