Death Be Not Proud – Reasoning Q&A (20+ Questions)

Complete the following sentences by providing a brief reason. Do not write the question.

1. Donne opens with "Death, be not proud" because __________

2. Death is described as a "slave" to fate and chance because __________

3. The speaker claims those death "overthrows" do not truly "die" because __________

4. Death is compared to rest and sleep because __________

5. The speaker says "Much pleasure" flows from sleep because __________

6. Death is associated with poison, war, and sickness because __________

7. The speaker mentions "poppy or charms" can induce sleep because __________

8. "Best men" go willingly with death because __________

9. Death is personified throughout the poem because __________

10. The final couplet asserts "Death, thou shalt die" because __________

11. Sleep and death are called "pictures" of each other because __________

12. The speaker's tone is mocking and defiant because __________

13. The poem relies on Christian theological concepts because __________

14. Death's power is described as temporary and limited because __________

15. The speaker claims to be immune to death because __________

16. Donne uses apostrophe to address death directly because __________

17. The poem presents death as powerless despite conventional fear because __________

18. The metaphor of death as slavery emphasizes that __________

19. The volta occurs before the final couplet because __________

20. Death receives insults and taunting from the speaker because __________

21. The poem's structure as a sonnet reinforces the theme because __________

Answer Key

i) He establishes his challenge to death's perceived power and authority from the outset.

ii) Death lacks independent agency and is controlled by other forces, not the other way around.

iii) The soul survives death; only the body dies, so death cannot truly kill the whole person.

iv) Both offer respite from earthly struggles, suggesting death is peaceful rather than terrifying.

v) If sleep brings pleasure, death, being superior to sleep, brings even greater peace and joy.

vi) Death is reduced to association with lowly, destructive forces rather than representing supreme power.

vii) These alternatives can induce sleep equally well, proving death is not superior or unique.

viii) They understand death permits their souls to reach eternal life beyond earthly suffering.

ix) Personification permits direct address and argument, making death a tangible opponent rather than abstraction.

x) Death becomes mortal once humans achieve eternal life; death itself ceases to exist as a power.