metaphysical poetry

 Metaphysical poetry

introduction 

a group of poets emerged in the begining of seventeenth century. England who inclined to the personal & intellectual , complexity and concentration . which is displayed in poetry of 

john donne 

the chief of the metaphysicals.

other 

henry vaughan 

andrew marvell

john Cleveland 

abraham cowley 

their work is,

blend of emotion intellectual ingenuity.

characterized by conceit or "wit".

metaphysical poetry is less concerned with expressing feeling than with analyzing it,  with the poet exploring the recesses of his consiousness.

 the boldness of the literary devices used,

obliquity

irony

paradox

are often reinforced by a dramatic directness of language and by rhythms derived from that of living speech.

metaphysical poetry stood higher in 1930 and 40`s largely because of 

t.s.eliot's 

"The Metaphysical poets"

history of metaphysical poetry 

the word

Metaphysical 

was used by writers such as John Dryden and Samual Johnson in regards to the poets of the seventeenth century.

"The poets are noted for their unnaturalness."

Johnson wrote in lives of the most eminent english poets in the late 1700s, that "a race of  writers " had appeared that might be termed

 "Metaphysical poets" 

The term was likely taken from  Dryden who had described John Donne as affecting "Metaphysics" in his satires and his "verses". It was not until the twentieth century that many poets were adequately recognized for their talent and originality.

Eliot is one of  twentieth - century literary critics who helped to establish the well- deserved reputation that writers such as,

John Donne 

Andrew Marvell 

both held.

who were the Metaphysical poets ?

The best known Metaphysical poet is,

John Donne

He is followed by other such as 

Henry Vaughan 

Andrew Marvell

George Herbert

Donne is most often cited as the best of his shortlist of writers and the originator of the basic tenants of the Genre. It is because of his writing that many writers who often took on some or all of the features of Metaphysical writing.

Characteristics of Metaphysical Poetry

Spoken quality 

Colloquial diction

philosophical exploration

New and original cenceits

Irony 

Relaxed use of method

Poets whose works have been categorized as "Metaphysical " often seek out the answers to questions such as,

Does God exist ?

Does humankind really have free choice ?

What is the nature of reality ?

Example of Metaphysical Poetry

The Flea‘              

_John Donne

The Flea’ by John Donne is the poet’s most famous poem. In it, he uses one of his brilliant conceits to convince his love to sleep with him.

In the very first line of ‘The Flea,’ the poet-lover asks his beloved to observe the flea carefully. She should notice that first, it sucked his blood and then hers, and in this way, their blood mingles in its body, as they do in sexual intercourse. The flea has enjoyed union with her, without any courtship or marriage. Yet this is not considered any loss of honour; there is neither any sin, nor shame, nor loss of virginity in it. In this respect, the flea is superior to them. She can do, i.e. enjoy the pleasure of physical union, which the lovers cannot enjoy prior to marriage.