This study aims at a depiction of the poetical technique used by the 17th century poet John Donne in order to create a dramatic effect in the following four poems: ”The Apparition”, ”The Canonization”, ”Death Be Not Proud” and ”The Paradox”. By ”dramatic” I mean that there are scenes taking place in the poems chosen which are reminiscent to those of a play, but above all that Donne, by using devices such as contrast, constructs a vivid and shocking poetry. In this essay an attempt is also made to answer the question why he wants to bring about this result. Furthermore, the poems are analyzed by means of, among other things, the following categories: language, stylistic figures and addressing. Accordingly, the essay shows that Donne mixes high and low elements, as well as intellectual and emotional devices to be able to achieve his dramatic effect. In other words, the use of macabre subjects, present tense, dramatic settings, dramatic contrasts, dramatic wit, ambiguity, colloquial speech and stylistic figures such as conceit and paradox contribute to create a shocking and surprising poetry. Hence, the major reason for Donne creating a dramatic effect are that his poetic style in itself is dramatic, that he wants to acknowledge the connection between poetry and life, and that he wants to fight his own mortality by writing a vivid poetry. At the same time as the dramatic effect is a rhetorical device to draw the reader into his poetry, it is a way for Donne to stay alive. To be more exact, he makes his poetry vital in order to stay remembered. In conclusion, by writing dramatically he is presenting himself, and his poetry functions as a forum where he can get an outlet for his intense personality.