The Metaphorical Meaning of the 'Seven Sleepers Den' in John Donne's 'Good Morrow'
What is the significance of the 'Seven Sleepers Den' in the poem 'Good Morrow' by John Donne?
a) The 'Seven Sleepers Den' symbolizes a place of safety and love.
b) The 'Seven Sleepers Den' represents a dreamlike state of love and intimacy between the lovers.
c) The 'Seven Sleepers Den' is a historical reference to a legendary cave where Christian youths slept for centuries.
d) The 'Seven Sleepers Den' signifies the challenges the lovers face in their relationship.
Answer:
In 'Good Morrow', the 'Seven Sleepers Den' metaphorically represents a timeless and unique space of love and intimacy shared by the lovers.
In John Donne's poem, 'Good Morrow', the 'Seven Sleepers Den' is a metaphor used to describe the profoundly intimate state shared by the two lovers. It does not symbolize a place of refuge, danger, or darkness, but rather, it symbolizes a timeless and unique space that holds their love. This imagery is rooted in the historic legend of the 'Seven Sleepers of Ephesus' - seven Christian youths who, to escape religious persecution, slept in a cave for centuries. The dreamlike state within the 'Seven Sleepers Den' signifies the lovers' oblivion to the concerns of the outside world as they find consummate love and companionship within their own microcosmic universe. John Donne's usage of this metaphor reinforces his profound exploration of love and spirituality, an indelible characteristic of his metaphysical poetry.