The Flea by John Donne

Conceits on John Donne’s “The Flea” John Donne was born into an old Roman Catholic family. At age 11 he entered the University of Oxford, where he studied for three years. He spent the next three years at the University on Cambridge, but took no degree at either university. In 1593, Donne’s younger brother died in prison after being arrested for harboring a priest. Donne relinquished his Roman Catholic faith and joined the Anglican Church. …

…an oath of allegiance to James I, king of England, and won him the favor of the king. He was appointed Royal Chaplain later that year. In due course, he was appointed Reader in Divinity at Lincoln’s Inn Anne Donne died in 1617, aged thirty-three after giving birth to their twelfth child. Donne continued to write poetry. In 1621 James I appointed him dean of Saint Paul’s Cathedral; he held that position until his death.