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The Triple Fool. By John Donne. Share. I am two fools, I know, For loving, and for saying so. In whining poetry; But where's that wiseman, that would not be I, If she would not deny? Then as th' earth's inward narrow crooked lanes.
- John Donne
His work is distinguished by its emotional and sonic...
- Air and Angels
Twice or thrice had I lov'd thee, Before I knew thy face or...
- John Donne
- Summary
- Structure, Form, and Rhyme Scheme
- Themes
- Literary Devices and Punctuation
- Speaker
- Detailed Analysis
- Similar Poetry
‘The Triple Fool‘ explores the speaker’s pain due to unrequited love. To cope with heartbreak, he writes poetry. Published two years after Donne’s death, ‘The Triple Fool‘ delves into heartbreak and the process of grieving. Just as the speaker is thought to be getting better, his emotions get publicized, and he has to start the healing process agai...
Structure and Form
‘The Triple Fool‘ is a 22-line poem separated into two 11-line stanzas. The separation is deliberate: the first stanzatalks about the beginning of healing, whereas the second describes the descent back into grief.
Rhyme Scheme and Meter
‘The Triple Fool‘ follows the AABCCDEDEFF rhyme scheme in the first stanza and GGHHHIJIKLL in the second. Additionally, the poem is written in iambic trimeter, a poetic meter consisting of 3 iambsper line.
‘The Triple Fool‘ explores the themes of heartbreak, healing, and the cycle of grief. Donne reflects on the dangers of making art about pain, as it has the potential to be picked up by other artists and either used as inspiration or broadcasted as it is, therefore making it impossible to find solace and heal.
Literary and Poetic Devices
1. Ironyis a poetic device that uses language to convey the opposite of what is being said. Donne uses irony when describing that art is cathartic, but when broadcasted, the speaker returns to the first stage of grief. 2. Personification is a poetic technique in which inanimate objects are given human characteristics. Donne personifieshis emotions while trying to tidy them away. 3. Donne makes self-deprecating comments throughout the poem, partly to shield himself from criticism and partly to...
Punctuation
1. Caesura is the use of punctuation in the middle one the line for purposes of repetition, emphasis, or rhythmbreak. 2. Enjambmentis the continuation of a sentence across multiple lines for fluidity and compelling storytelling.
‘The Triple Fool‘ is written in a singular first-personnarrative. The speaker is heartbroken and decides to write poetry to cope. Once the poem is out, he can no longer control how his art is used.
Stanza One
The first stanza of ‘The Triple Fool‘ begins with a self-deprecating comment. The speaker describes himself as two fools, which intrigues the reader: how could one person divide into two? The punctuation in the stanza is simple: a combination of enjambment and caesura create a storytelling tone. The stanza is set out in iambic trimeter. The tone of the stanza is relatively informal: the poem reads like a soliloquy. The speaker is evaluating his decisions and how he is handling the heartbreak....
Stanza Two
The second stanza of ‘The Triple Fool‘ describes the unfortunate incidence of the speaker’s pain being broadcasted in the form of a song. The tone is urgent and anxious as Donne has just begun healing: must he really go through the turmoil again?
If you enjoyed ‘The Triple Fool,’ consider exploring the following poems: 1. ‘Passion‘ by Kathleen Reine describes heartbreak due to unrequited love from a first-person perspective. 2. ‘Love is Not All‘ by Edna St. Vincent Millayreflects humanity’s tendency to suffer for love. The poem reminds the reader that love is not all there is to life. 3. ‘N...
- Female
- May 24, 2003
- Poetry Analyst
"The Triple Fool" is the 17th-century English poet John Donne's witty, rueful reflection on the power—and the limits—of poetry. Heartbroken by unrequited love, the poem's speaker tries to alleviate his suffering by writing a poem about his grief.
The Triple Fool is a strange love-poem where Donne calls himself a Triple Fool. Firstly, he is a fool because he loves, secondly because he communicates his love through poetry, thirdly because when his poetry is sung, it reawakens the pain of love which had been dulled when he wrote his poems.
Oct 21, 2014 · The most obvious love poems involve declarations of romantic love – from traditional Troubadour songs, Petrarchan and Shakespearean sonnets, and sentimental Victorian verse.
Verse 1: I know I am doubly a fool, firstly for loving, and then for whining about it in poetry; but where is the wise man who would not exchange places with me, as long as she did not object to it? Then, as the earth’s narrow crooked inland streams purge away the sea water’s irritating brine, so I thought that if I could present my ...
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Through the beauty of poetry, these famous poems about fools illuminate the complexities of human nature and invite us to ponder the foolishness we all possess within. So, let us celebrate the enchanting verses that remind us of the valuable lessons hidden behind the masks of foolishness.
