The Island

The island is a symbol of healthy isolation. An island is, by definition, unconnected to any other land mass. However, there is nothing broken or wrong with an island: its isolation is natural. This is in contrast to human experiences of isolation, which Donne argues is always unhealthy.

Europe

Europe symbolizes civilization. It stands in for the entirety of the achievements of human kind, which are so easily diminished by any loss.

The Clod

The clod symbolizes something apparently unimportant. A clod is a small bunch of dirt. Donne depicts it being washed away by the ocean. He uses this to emphasize his point: no matter how small or unimportant something seems, it is part of a larger and necessary whole.

The Promontory

The promontory symbolizes precariousness and danger. A promontory is a peninsula, anything that sticks out into the ocean. It symbolizes the danger...