No man is an island,

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Poème original

No man is an island, Entire of itself, Every man is a piece of the continent, A part of the main. If a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less. As well as if a promontory were. As well as if a manor of thy friend’s Or of thine own were: Any man’s death diminishes me, Because I am involved in mankind, And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; It tolls for thee.

Traduction

No person can exist alone, Each person is part of a bigger community, Everyone is connected to the whole world, A part of the larger whole. If a small piece of land is taken by the sea, Europe becomes smaller. Just like if a large piece of land were taken. Just like if a friend's estate Or your own were taken: The death of any person affects me, Because I am part of humanity, So do not ask for whom the funeral bell rings; It rings for you.

Explication

John Donne's poem 'No Man is an Island' explores the theme of human interconnectedness. Donne uses the metaphor of an island to illustrate that no person is truly isolated; everyone is part of a larger community and humanity as a whole. The poem suggests that any loss, whether it be a piece of land or a human life, diminishes the entire community. Donne emphasizes that we are all involved in mankind, and thus, the death of any individual affects us all. The famous line 'for whom the bell tolls' implies that the death of one person is a loss to everyone, as we are all part of the same human experience. This meditation on mortality and community reflects Donne's metaphysical style, characterized by its use of complex metaphors and exploration of philosophical themes.

Dictionnaire des mots

Mot	Sens simple	Traduction	Pron.
island	a piece of land surrounded by water	a small piece of land surrounded by water	is-land
continent	a large landmass	a very large land area	con-ti-nent
clod	a lump of earth	a small lump of earth	klod
promontory	a high point of land

No man is an island, — Poème | Poetry Explainer