[Essay] None of that kind, of which he is, but he.

[onuracar]

Help.

.. . For every man alone thinks he hath got
To be a Phoenix, and that then can be
None of that kind, of which he is, but he.

How can be expression of "but he" completed fully? Obviously, I couldn't completely understand the sentence of "and that then can be None of that kind, of which he is, but he."

 

[Raymott]

Re: Help

Most people would write "but him". It would be helpful if you told us where this text came from (ie. who wrote it, and when, and what's the poem called.)

 

[Rover_KE]

Welcome to the forum, onuracar.

I have changed your thread title.

Extract from the Posting Guidelines:

'Thread titles should include all or part of the word/phrase being discussed.'

 

[onuracar]

Re: Help

It's from a poem, An Anatomy of the World, written by John Donne. You can read full text from http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems-and-poets/poems/detail/44092

 

[Raymott]

Re: Help

John Donne is a wonderful poet who likes word play. You've done well to understand the poem up to there!

"Prince, subject, father, son, are things forgot,

For every man alone thinks he hath got

To be a phoenix, and that then can be

None of that kind, of which he is, but he.

This means, at least to me, that every single person thinks he has to be a phoenix (for some reason), and when he is, there can't be any other people of that kind (phoenixes) except for him - because he's the only one. There can be none, but he, who is a phoenix.

I don't have time to read the whole poem properly to work out why every man think he needs to be a phoenix though.​

 

[onuracar]

Re: Help

Thank you so much for your help. Now I am more clearer. In part, I have found the meaning, but I could not be sure. Thanks again.

 

[Tarheel]

None of that kind

Re:

Now I am more clearer.

Try:

Now I understand better.

 

[emsr2d2]

Re: None of that kind

"Clearer" is a comparative. You can't use "more" with comparatives in that way.

That is a clear sentence. (Clear = adjective)
That is a clearer sentence. (Clearer = comparative)
That is the clearest sentence. (Clearest = superlative)

That sentence is more clear = That sentence is clearer.
That sentence is the most clear = That sentence is the clearest.