Key Metaphysical Poets John Donne Henry Vaughn George Herbert Andrew Marvell Abraham Cowley Richard Crashaw
George Herbert ( ) Foremost follower of John Donne Achieved distinction at Cambridge University Took holy orders Known for shape poetry & religious poems, published posthumously “The Altar” “Easter Wings” “The Collar” “The Pulley” “Virtue” “The Temple”
John Donne ( ) Born Catholic; converted to Anglican Church & became a preacher Studied at Oxford & Cambridge Stopped writing poetry after took holy orders in 1615 “The Flea” “The Sun Rising” (aubade or “dawn” poem) “The Holy Sonnets” “Death Be Not Proud” “A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning” sermons
Andrew Marvell ( ) Graduated from Cambridge University Assistant to poet John Milton Puritan poet although most famous for his secular poetry “To His Coy Mistress”
What is Metaphysical Poetry? 17th-century English lyric poetry with common techniques and a few common themes Revolt against Elizabethan love poetry, i.e. sonnets energetic, rough, or uneven movement, unlike the elegance, sweetness and smoothness of 16 th century verse Psychological analysis of emotions, such as love and topics, such as religious tensions with the individual Unique and even shocking comparisons
Metaphysical Poetry cont’d Metaphysical conceit = a form of extended metaphor. Metaphysical wit—imaginative comparison of apparently quite dissimilar objects and the discovery that they are, after all, similar Often accomplished through paradox, pun & parallelism Meter, irregular rhyme, & diction similar to speech Usually in the form or structure of an argumentative position Irony/cynicism about human motives and an interest in philosophical questions and speculation
How to Recognize aJohn Donne Poem
dramatic, in medias res, opening The speaker always addresses a silent Companion fairly rough, irregular rhythm a conversational tone Metaphysical conceit images drawn from many sources that seem more worldly than the lovely, ideal images of 16 th century poetry (like Shakespeare’s sonnets)
Metaphysical Conceits--Examples from Donne: A woman’s naked body as an explorer’s map ”Oh, my America!” Two lover’s bodies as a geometric compass God’s grace as a battering ram, or as a metal worker melting and hammering a dented vessel or as a rapist A flea’s body serving as a sacred altar or as a marriage bed for lovers
Elizabethan Sonnets Metaphysical Poetry religious secular Cavalier Poetry
The Cavalier Poets, or Sons of Ben or Tribe of Ben Ben Jonson ( ) Poet, Playwright, Prose Writer Sons of Ben OR Cavalier Poets: Robert Herrick ( ) “Upon the Loss of His Mistress,” “The Vine,” “Delight in Disorder,” “Upon Julia’s Clothes,” “To the Virgins to Make Much of Time” a carpe diem poem, one that urges the reader to seize the day because time sweeps all into death. Sir John Suckling ( ) “Why So Pale and Wan, fond lover?/Prithee, why so pale?” Richard Lovelace ( ) “To Lucasta, Going to War”