"Donne manipulates conventional forms of religious poetry to his own ends. Discuss this statement with reference to texts studied."

John Donne is one of the many poets of his time who wrote religious poetry. The way he writes sets him apart from the other poets as he manages to successfully subvert the traditional conventions to his own ends. Each of the religious poems "Batter my heart" and "Hymne to God, my God, in my sicknesse" shows Donne's verbal dexterity, manipulation of the conventional form and use of a variety of textual features. For the …

…This paradox ends the argument by conveying the last vital point; it also brings the poem to a conclusion. Even within a conventional form it is possible for a witty poet to subvert the conventions. John Donne was able to do that in his religious poems "Batter my Heart" and "Hymne to God, my God, in my sicknesse". His use of manipulation both set him apart from his fellow intellectuals and made his poems timeless.