John Donne's "Go and catch a falling star": Analysis of Rhetoric

Go and catch a falling star

 by John Donne

 Go and catch a falling star,

Get with child a mandrake root,

Tell me where all past years are,

Or who cleft the Devil's foot,

Teach me to hear mermaids singing,

Or to keep off envy's stinging,

And find

What wind

Serves to advance an honest mind.If thou be'st born to strange sights,

Things invisible to see,

Ride ten thousand days and nights,

Till age snow white hairs on thee;

Thou, when thou return'st, wilt tell me

All strange wonders that befell thee,

And swear

No where

Lives a woman true, and fair.If thou find'st one, let me know,

Such a pilgrimage were sweet;

Yet do not, I would not go,

Though at next door we might meet:

Though she were true, when you met her,

And last, till you write your letter,

Yet she

Will be

False, ere I come, to two or three.

"Go and catch a falling star": This line employs an imperative tone, Hyperbolic. commanding the reader to undertake a seemingly impossible task. It sets up the tone of the poem as one of skepticism and irony.

"Get with child a mandrake root": This line presents a fantastical and mythical scenario, urging the reader to accomplish something that is considered impossible or unnatural.

"Tell me where all past years are

Or who cleft the Devil's foot": This is a case  of allusion. It refers to the medieval belief that an unknown power has cleaved the foot of the devil. This line poses a questiontoo that is impossible to answer, emphasizing the theme of impossibility and the exploration of unattainable knowledge.

This line presents another impossible task, questioning the origin or cause of a supernatural entity, the Devil. It further emphasizes the theme of impossibility and the unanswerable.

"Teach me to hear mermaids singing": This is a case  of allusion. This line expresses a desire for knowledge or ability that goes beyond human capabilities, again emphasizing the theme of the unattainable.

"Or to keep off envy's stinging": This line suggests the desire to acquire a skill or knowledge that can protect oneself from negative emotions such as envy. It highlights the longing for a power that is beyond reach.

"And find

 What wind

Serves to advance an honest mind": These lines form a triplet, using a rhetorical device known as anaphora (repetition at the beginning of successive clauses). They express the desire to discover the force or influence that can propel an honest mind forward. The use of repetition adds emphasis to the plea for this knowledge.

It is a case of Synecdoche . The abstract phrase ‘honest mind’ stands for the concrete honest person.

It is also a case of Innuendo . The poet implies that in present society an honest person will  never rise in the social scale. Because that is reserved only for the  dishonest person .   

"If thou be'st born to strange sights": This line introduces a conditional statement, suggesting that if the reader is destined to witness extraordinary phenomena, then they should undertake a journey.

This is also  a case of Hyperbaton. The normal order of words ---‘go and see invisible things’ has been  inverted.

"Things invisible to see": This line presents a paradox by describing things that are invisible yet capable of being seen. It further reinforces the theme of the unattainable and the exploration of the unknown.

"Ride ten thousand days and nights": This line employs hyperbole to exaggerate the duration of the journey, emphasizing its arduous and lengthy nature.

"Till age snow white hairs on thee": This line uses imagery to depict the passing of time, suggesting that the reader must travel until they are old and aged.

"Thou, when thou return'st, wilt tell me

 All strange wonders that befell thee": These lines express the expectation that the reader, upon completing the journey, will share their experiences of encountering extraordinary phenomena. It establishes a sense of anticipation and curiosity.

"And swear

No where 

Lives a woman true, and fair": These lines again form a triplet using anaphora. They express the cynical belief that there is no place where a woman can be found who is both honest and beautiful. The repetition adds emphasis and reinforces the skepticism and irony found throughout the poem.

"If thou find'st one, let me know

"Such a pilgrimage were sweet":

This line presents another conditional statement, urging the reader to inform the speaker if they happen to find a woman who possesses the described qualities.

 This line acknowledges the desirability of embarking on such a journey, using the metaphor of a pilgrimage to evoke a sense of spiritual and personal growth.

"Yet do not, I would not go": These lines express a contradictory sentiment, with the speaker stating that they do not want to undertake the journey despite acknowledging its potential rewards. It adds a touch of irony and complexity to the speaker's perspective.

"Though at next door we might meet": This line suggests that the woman the speaker seeks may be close by, metaphorically speaking, highlighting the idea that true qualities are hard to find even in proximity.

"Though she were true, when you met her,

And last, till you write your letter,

Yet she

Will be

False, ere I come, to two or three."

These lines express the speaker's cynicism and doubt regarding the fidelity of the woman they seek. Even if she initially appears to be true and faithful, the speaker believes she will eventually be unfaithful to two or three other individuals before the speaker's arrival. The repetition and parallel structure of the lines emphasize the speaker's skepticism and reinforce the theme of untrustworthiness in relationships.

This is a case of Metaphor  because a woman who is both faithful and beautiful has been  compared to a deity , her residence to a shrine and the journey to a pilgrimage .

This is a case of Hyperbole too. The poet exaggerates the possibility of faithlessness in so short a span of time.

 Ardhendu De