John Donne Writes 'The Flea', the Most Famous Parasite Poem in English Literature
Poet involved
What happened
John Donne's poem 'The Flea' was almost certainly written before 1600 though first published in 1633; it appeared in print in his posthumous Songs and Sonnets. In the poem, a male speaker uses the conceit of a flea that has bitten both himself and his beloved — mixing their blood within its body — as an elaborate argument for sexual union. The poem exemplifies Metaphysical wit at its most audacious, finding cosmic significance in a creature universally regarded as a household pest.
Literary impact
Donne's 'The Flea' is arguably the most celebrated insect poem in the English language and a cornerstone of the Metaphysical tradition. By elevating a flea bite into an argument about desire, honour, marriage, and death, Donne demonstrated the power of the conceit — the strained metaphor — as a vehicle for serious intellectual and emotional content. The poem influenced generations of poets who followed, and it remains a touchstone for discussions of how parasitic and lowly creatures can carry the highest poetic freight.
Source: Wikipedia
