Give examples of 2 specific words from the poem "No Man Is An Island", by John Donne, that are meant to be understood metaphorically. What is the figurative meaning?

"No Man Is An Island"

No man is an island, entire of itself; every man

Is a piece of the continent, a part of the main; if a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the lesse,

as well as if a Promontory were, as well as if a Manor

Of thy friends or of thine own were; any man's death

Diminishes me, because I am involved in Mankind;

And therefore never send to know for whom the

Bell tolls; it tolls for thee.

Question

Roderick Matthews

English

11 July, 06:09

Give examples of 2 specific words from the poem "No Man Is An Island", by John Donne, that are meant to be understood metaphorically. What is the figurative meaning?

"No Man Is An Island"

No man is an island, entire of itself; every man

Is a piece of the continent, a part of the main; if a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the lesse,

as well as if a Promontory were, as well as if a Manor

Of thy friends or of thine own were; any man's death

Diminishes me, because I am involved in Mankind;

And therefore never send to know for whom the

Bell tolls; it tolls for thee.

+3

Answers (1)

Know the Answer?

Kael Hayden · Answer 1

This answer is just how I interpret it, the rest is - of course - up to you. The figurative meanings I can't quite guess, but I'll give you what I can make out.

Word 1: Promontory

Word 2: Diminishes

Promontory, Meaning: Promontory means a high piece of land such as a cliff or overhang on a mountain.

Diminishes, Meaning: Diminishes means to slowly fade away and vanish. His figurative meaning using diminishes here: ' ... Diminishes me, because I am involved in Mankind; ... '. 'Diminishes me ... ' Means he's fading away metaphorically, not physically.