An Anatomy of the World (Poem) Summary
John Donne

An Anatomy of the World (Poem) Overview

The full title of "An Anatomy of the World" is "An Anatomy of the World, Wherein, by occasion of the untimely death of Mistress Elizabeth Drury, the frailty and the decay of this whole world is represented." It is a long poem by English metaphysical poet John Donne. It was written on the occasion of the death of his friend and patron Robert Drury's daughter, Elizabeth Drury, who was only fourteen years old at the time. He uses the occasion to discuss the loss he himself experienced, but also to comment on the nature of humanity amidst suffering more broadly. It was initially published in 1611 in the collection The First Anniversary.