Sonnet Tradition · English Literature

John Donne's 'Holy Sonnets' are significant because they shift the sonnet tradition away from:

  1. Secular romance toward intense religious and meditative anxiety
  2. Latin toward the English vernacular, abandoning classical traditions
  3. The use of regular meter toward experimental free verse forms
  4. The court toward the university as the primary patron of verse
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Correct answer: Secular romance toward intense religious and meditative anxiety

Donne used the secular, often erotic energy of the sonnet tradition to express his tumultuous relationship with God. This marked the transition into the Metaphysical style of the early 17th century.

Difficulty: Medium Question 18 of 20

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