Question

Read these lines from "The Flea" by John Donne and answer the questions that follow:

Answer 1

"Mark but this flea, and mark in this,

How little that which thou deniest me is;

Me it sucked first, and now sucks thee,

And in this flea our two bloods mingled be;"

Summary:

pay attention to this little thing

it sucked for me not it sucks for you

now are joined

"Thou know'st that this cannot be said

A sin, or shame, or loss of maidenhead;"

Summary:

the little thing is bad

"And pampered swells with one blood made of two;

And this, alas, is more than we would do."

Summary:

2 became 1 and its more than it should be

"And pampered swells with one blood made of two;

And this, alas, is more than we would do."

SUMMARY:

because 2 became 1 it a big deal

Answer 2

Look at this flea, and you'll understand that what you're denying me is very trivial. The flea sucked my blood first and then it sucked your blood. Now our bloods are mingled in the flea’s blood. This mixing of bloods is not a sin or anything to be ashamed of. The flea now grows big with a new life inside it. The little bloodsucking flea has achieved much more than what we as lovers have attained.