Pearson Edexcel · A-Level · English Literature
Course version: 9ET0 · Version from Sept 2015
Poetry – Section B: Specified Poetry Pre- or Post-1900 – Pre-1900 –…
Full specification wording
Component 3: Poetry – Section B: Specified Poetry Pre- or Post-1900 – Pre-1900 – Metaphysical Poetry – John Donne Selected Poems (Penguin Classics, 2006): The Funeral
In 'The Funeral', Donne employs a striking metaphysical conceit where the speaker instructs that a 'subtle wreath of hair' given by his beloved be buried with him.
Checked against the Pearson Edexcel 9ET0 specification (opens in a new tab) on .
- Point 18 of 22
- 4 key terms
Study notes
From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.
The idea
In 'The Funeral', Donne employs a striking metaphysical conceit where the speaker instructs that a 'subtle wreath of hair' given by his beloved be buried with him. This bracelet of hair functions as a complex symbol: initially presented as a protective relic and a physical extension of the soul that acts as a 'viceroy' to hold his dissolving body together. However, the poem's tone shifts dramatically in the final stanza. The speaker suggests that if the woman's hair was meant to control him like a prisoner, burying it becomes an act of defiance and revenge against her rejection ('Since you would save none of me, I bury some of you').
What earns the marks
- Analyse the conceit of the 'subtle wreath of hair' as both a spiritual relic and a physical binding.
- Evaluate the shift in tone from melancholic devotion in the first stanza to bitter vindictiveness in the third.
- Explore the contextual links to Renaissance anatomy and theology, specifically the idea of the soul holding the body together.
- Compare the treatment of death and unrequited love in this poem with other metaphysical works in the anthology.
Common mistakes and how to put them right
Assuming the poem is a straightforward romantic tribute.
Put it right: Acknowledge the bitter, vengeful undertones in the final stanza where the speaker seeks to bury a part of the rejecting lover.
Misinterpreting 'viceroy' as a purely political term.
Put it right: Explain 'viceroy' in the context of Renaissance philosophy, where the hair acts as a deputy for the soul, managing the physical body.
Ignoring the physical reality of the grave.
Put it right: Address how Donne grounds his abstract metaphysical arguments in the visceral, physical decay of the corpse.
Exam tips
- Focus on the structural pivot in the final stanza to demonstrate an understanding of Donne's complex, shifting arguments.
- Link the imagery of the 'wreath of hair' to Catholic relic worship, noting how Donne subverts this religious practice for secular, romantic purposes.
- Use short, embedded quotations like 'sinewy thread' to analyse Donne's fusion of the spiritual and the anatomical.
Try the lesson
The start of the Component 3: Poetry – Section B: Specified Poetry Pre- or Post-1900 – Pre-1900 – Metaphysical Poetry – John Donne Selected Poems (Penguin Classics, 2006): The Funeral lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.
Have a go first
In John Donne's 'The Funeral', what specific object does the speaker insist must be buried with him?
Listen
In 'The Funeral', Donne employs a striking metaphysical conceit where the speaker instructs that a 'subtle wreath of hair' given by his beloved be buried with him. This bracelet of hair functions as a complex symbol: initially presented as a protective relic and a physical extension of the soul that acts as a 'viceroy' to hold his dissolving body together. However, the poem's tone shifts dramatically in the final stanza. The speaker suggests that if the woman's hair was meant to control him like a prisoner, burying it becomes an act of defiance and revenge against her rejection ('Since you would save none of me, I bury some of you'). A strong answer earns marks for these points. Analyse the conceit of the 'subtle wreath of hair' as both a spiritual relic and a physical binding. Evaluate the shift in tone from melancholic devotion in the first stanza to bitter vindictiveness in the third. Explore the contextual links to Renaissance anatomy and theology, specifically the idea of the soul holding the body together. Compare the treatment of death and unrequited love in this poem with other metaphysical works in the anthology. A common slip: Assuming the poem is a straightforward romantic tribute. Instead, Acknowledge the bitter, vengeful undertones in the final stanza where the speaker seeks to bury a part of the rejecting lover. Exam tip: Focus on the structural pivot in the final stanza to demonstrate an understanding of Donne's complex, shifting arguments.
Key words
Say what each word means before you turn the card.
Unrequited love
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Death and mortality
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The relationship between body and soul
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Power and control
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See every definition
- Unrequited love
- The speaker's love is rejected, and the final stanza turns to defiance and revenge against her rejection.
- Death and mortality
- The poem grounds its abstract arguments in the visceral, physical decay of the corpse and the reality of the grave.
- The relationship between body and soul
- The bracelet of hair is a physical extension of the soul that acts as a 'viceroy' to hold the dissolving body together.
- Power and control
- The speaker suggests the woman's hair was meant to control him like a prisoner, so burying it becomes an act of defiance.
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