Jonson on my first son. 5.6: Ben Jonson's "On My First Son" (1616) 2022-10-22

Jonson on my first son Rating: 5,6/10 1914 reviews

"On My First Son" is a poem written by the English poet and playwright Ben Jonson in the early 17th century. The poem is a lament for the loss of Jonson's young son, who died at the age of seven.

In the poem, Jonson reflects on the pain and grief he feels at the loss of his son, and how the child's death has left a permanent mark on his heart. He describes the child as "the most beautiful, sweet, and loving child," and expresses his sorrow at not being able to see him grow up and fulfill his potential.

Despite the deep sadness that permeates the poem, Jonson also acknowledges the love and pride he had for his son, and the joy that the child brought to his life. He writes, "Though yet of thee, and from the womb so early / Plucked, I must speak and think as if thou wert / As present with me now."

Jonson's use of language in the poem is poignant and evocative, as he uses metaphor and imagery to convey the depth of his grief and the sense of loss that he feels. He writes of his son as a "flower" that has been plucked too soon, and compares his death to the "untimely frost" that has silenced the child's voice forever.

Despite the sadness of the poem, there is also a sense of hope and acceptance in Jonson's words. He writes, "For thou art with me here upon the earth, / Though in the earth thou art not, but a part / Of this my life, and soul, wherewith I hold / Thy memory, and thy absence."

In this way, Jonson suggests that his son will always be a part of his life, even in death, and that the love and memories he holds of the child will continue to sustain him. "On My First Son" is a powerful and moving tribute to the enduring bond between a parent and child, and a testament to the enduring power of love and loss.

A Short Analysis of Ben Jonson’s ‘On my First Sonne’

jonson on my first son

In this regard the work can be considered a poetic elegy to his son. In the last stanza, when the persona has moved into death, the imagery becomes abstract, revealing the veiled and mysterious nature of death. Even though he believes that, from an objective perspective, he should envy his son, in reality he feels a keen sense of loss. The father then yells and tries to give an explanation for his quietness. Jonson is urging himself to mourn in a selfless, unegoistic way.

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On My First Son Analysis

jonson on my first son

In each line, there are many consonance which makes specific words to be important or strong. Each rhyming group is a formal couplet, meaning that in addition to rhyming, each set of two lines completes a full thought with end punctuation. Indeed, he knows that in many ways his son should be envied, for escaping the hardships of life, and the horrible process of getting old. Summary The speaker, who in this particular case is synonymous with the poet Ben Jonson, says goodbye to his late son. The poem ends with Jonson vowing that he will remember in the future not to get too attached to the things he loves, so that he may prevent himself from future grief. Of course, that's primarily because he is avoiding thoughts of all the wonderful things his son may have missed - that would make the loss too painful. If you've ever had to work through the grief of the death of someone close to you, then this poem should be fairly easy to understand.


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On My First Son Poem Summary and Analysis

jonson on my first son

First, I wanted to get accurate information from the client given the nature of the charges and the sensitive nature of her position as a teacher. Summary Of On My First Son The final two lines of the poem build on the bitter tone Jonson has established. Perhaps this is a poetic indication of his wavering belief in the justness of his son's early death, or his difficulty in coping with it. His proudest achievement during this campaign was his killing an enemy in single combat, and claiming the spoils of his defeated opponent. If you've ever had to work through the grief of the death of someone close to you, then this poem should be fairly easy to understand.

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Analysis of Ben Jonson's On My First Son

jonson on my first son

This would bring an enormous amount of sadness to my life had I not had my Dad there to guide and protect me. Do not go gentle into that good night. The following version of this poem was used to create this guide: Jonson, Ben. It turns out to be almost more about Jonson than about the son. For why Will man lament the fate he should envíe? The citation above will include either 2 or 3 dates. Though he comes to some level of reconcilliation with himself it is as equally forlorn as his predicament, as he states he shall never love again. To have so soon 'scaped world's and flesh's rage, And if no other misery, yet age! There are a few interesting things going on here.

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🏷️ On my first son poem summary. Summarize Ben Jonson's poem, "On My First Son," in your own words.. 2022

jonson on my first son

This interrupts the meaning of how death is a concept that is terrifying. O, could I lose all father, now. The second is the date of publication online or last modification online. Jonson was granted honorary degrees from both Oxford and Cambridge. Another major theme of the poem is grief.

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On my First Son “On my First Son” Summary and Analysis

jonson on my first son

Background A tender reflection on one's firstborn son - that sounds like fairly typical poetic fare, right? The poem is comprised of six heroic couplets in iambic pentameter, which means that rhymes are made every two sentences and each sentence must contain ten syllables with accentuation on each odd numbered syllable. Jonson has tried to find other ways to avoid grief: he tells himself it was fate, and wishes he could stop being a father. It accentuates the temperate, collected nature of death which is then changed in the 4th stanza when the mood changes to a more supernatural, ghostly feel. In this regard the work can be considered a poetic elegy to his son. The gist of it is easy to access.

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"On My First son" by Ben Jonson

jonson on my first son

He was also one of the most well-known writers of the Renaissance and was, in fact, a contemporary of William Shakespeare. Whilst he may not find peace in himself, he can at least find solace knowing that his son was taken only by the grace of God, and will not have to suffer either the ravages of age or the horrors of the plague that eventually took his life. Praise is then given to the deceased boy by saying he is his father's best work of art: Rest in soft peace, and, ask'd, say, 'Here doth lie Ben Jonson his best piece of poetry. This clash causes Jonson to come to a conclusion on how he will resolve his problem, as he makes an oath to never love someone as much as he did Benjamin, for fear that these feelings ever arise again. He tries to justify the boy's death by saying it was his fate and due time by God's decree.


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On My First Son by Ben Jonson: Summary, Theme & Analysis

jonson on my first son

The language of debt and loan, in contrast, has more negative connotations. In contrast to the previous lines, this quartet is given as if spoken directly to the child. Jonson is using it the same way here. Poem and Summary The poem 'On My First Son' reads: Farewell, thou child of my right hand, and joy; My sin was too much hope of thee, loved boy. As certain cases can appear sad at first, with further examination, a light will always be seen at the end of the tunnel, and no matter the result, the individual can emerge with a different viewpoint.

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