Step 1: About John Donne.
John Donne was a metaphysical poet known for his deep spiritual and philosophical reflections. His poetry often explored themes of love, mortality, faith, and the relationship between the soul and God.
Step 2: Context of certainty.
In his sermons and poems, Donne frequently reflected on the inevitability of death. He believed that while human life is uncertain and temporary, death is the one event that no one can escape.
Step 3: Supporting example.
In his poem “Death Be Not Proud,” Donne personifies death, arguing that it should not be feared because it is a passage to eternal life. Despite this comforting belief, he acknowledges that death itself is inevitable — hence, certain.
Step 4: Analyzing the options.
- (a) Death: Correct — Donne emphasizes its certainty.
- (b) Life: Life is uncertain, unpredictable.
- (c) Work: Not a central theme in Donne’s philosophy.
- (d) Walking: Irrelevant to the context.
Step 5: Conclusion.
Thus, according to John Donne, death is the only certainty in human existence.