Abstract
The purpose of this dissertation was to discover, through a comparative study of Donne's Essays in Divinity and Sermons and Hooker's Of the Laws of Ecclesiastical Polity, to what extent John Donne followed Richard Hooker's theology. Chapter I reviews scholarship on three questions: (1) Donne's conversion to Anglicanism, (2) skepticism in Donne's Sermons, (3) Donne's contribution to Anglican theology. Extensive controversy on each of these points indicated that a careful comparison between Donne's theology and Hooker's would contribute to each critical area. Chapter II explains Hooker's position in the rise of Anglicanism and summarizes the main points of Books I-V of the Laws. Chapter III compares to Hooker's position four topics concerning Donne's concept of the English Church: Donne's defense of the Church; his position on toleration, "things fundamental," "things indifferent"; his interpretation of the Eucharist and Baptism; his concept of the Church. Although Donne agreed with Hooker.
Tebeaux, Elizabeth de Volin (1977). John Donne and Anglicanism : the relationship of his theology to Richard Hooker's. Texas A&M University. Texas A&M University. Libraries. Available electronically from
https : / /hdl .handle .net /1969 .1 /DISSERTATIONS -622126.