Here is a short definition, based upon the metaphysical poetry of the seventeenth century. It needs deep concentration and full attention to get to the roots of the matter. Topics of interest often included love, religion, and morality, which the metaphysical poets considered through unusual comparisons, frequently employing unexpected similes and metaphors in displays of wit. The hallmark of their poetry is the metaphysical conceit a figure of speech that employs unusual and paradoxical images, a reliance on intellectual wit, learned imagery, and subtle argument.
Literary genres and subgenres fiction, nonfiction, drama, and poetry video and worksheet duration. This term metaphysical, used by dryden, adopted by johnson, was first used as a convenient term, and as much defined by the material in hand, as defining it. Donne is often said to be first metaphysical poet, and donnes genius for original, intellectually complex poetry certainly helped to set the trend for the poetry that followed him. Metaphysical poetry is considered highly ambiguous and obscure due to high intellect and knowledge of the metaphysical poets. Metaphysical poetry has been one of the most unique genres in english literature owing to a number of aspects. A metaphysical poem tends to be short and is always closely woven and so there is some truth when it is said a metaphysical poem is an expanded epigram. All of those types of poetry have specific qualities that allow us to group them together.
Metaphysical poetry definition what is metaphysical. Metaphysical poetry definitions, notes and objective. The metaphysical poets is a term coined by the poet and critic samuel johnson to describe a loose group of british lyric poets of the 17th century, whose work was characterized by the inventive use of. It usually sets up an analogy between one entitys spiritual qualities and an object in the physical world and sometimes controls the whole structure of the poem. Metaphysical combines thought or metaphysical speculation with feeling.
Metaphysical poetry refers to the poetry of the seventeenthcentury that combines emotion with intellect, often in unconventional or blunt ways, with the goal of understanding the human mind. Some of metaphysical poets include john donne, edward taylor, george herbert, and andrew marvell. Their poetry is greatly challenging to understand at first reading. While lyrical poetry does tend to have a structure or rhyme scheme, there is not a strict on such as poetry forms like a sonnet. Metaphysical poetry to religious debate, astrology, alchemy, seadiscovery and philosophy illustrates the intellectual excitement of the age. Reacting against the deliberately smooth and sweet tones of much 16thcentury verse, the metaphysical poets adopted a style that is energetic, uneven, and rigorous. Metaphysical poetrymid16th century mid17th century 2.
Eliot 1993 indeed, it would not be possible to give a comprehensive definition of metaphysical poetry or determine the exact number. Metaphysical poetry definition top 5 metaphysical poets. Most metaphysical poetry was written by english men of a middle or upper class level who were involved with the english church and clergy. John donne and metaphysical poetry the british library. Ppt metaphysical poetry powerpoint presentation free.
Elizabethan lyric the elizabethan lyrical poetry is the glory of the age. If you continue browsing the site, you agree to the use of cookies on this website. Associated with certain british poets of the 17th century, metaphysical poems share characteristics yet do not formally comprise a genre of poetry. Metaphysical definition and meaning collins english. Metaphysical definition of metaphysical by the free. These poets were not formally affiliated and few were highly regarded until 20th century attention established their importance. Metaphysical poetry is the name given to a style of poetry from the seventeenth century.
It also was a more realistic variety of poetry and was much less fairytale or fantasy. The reader is held to an idea or a line or argument. Poets associated with metaphysical poetry include john donne, george herbert, andrew marvell, and henry vaughan. Instead of defining them by their virtues johnson defined them by their faults.
Unmetaphysical definition of unmetaphysical by the free. Metaphysical poetry article about metaphysical poetry by. Metaphysical poetry is a paradoxical inquiry, imaginative and intellectual, which exhausts, by its use of antithesis and contradic. In those days wit was the ability to make up unusual metaphors and images and arrange them in an unexpected way so as to surprise. I think the poem brahma by emerson would be prominently placed under the category of metaphysical or philosophical poems. All the major features of this kind of poetry were so unique that even some terms have been derived to point exclusively towards these aspects. Donne was not a conscious reviver of dantes metaphysics and consequently this definition does not throw much light on the nature of metaphysical poetry. Themes used in metaphysical poetry lord, who createdst man in wealth and store, though foolishly he lost the same, decaying more and more, till he became most poore. Sweet songs were written and published during this period.
Metaphysical poetry, a term generally applied to the works of a group of english poets of the seventeenth century, is among the most read and studied verse in english literature, having proved enduringly popular and major influence on many twentiethcentury poets. When we begin exploring john donnes verse, the description of him as a metaphysical poet is inescapable and so its worth considering in detail importantly, donne and the other 16th and 17thcentury poets gathered under the metaphysical banner carew, vaughan and marvell to name some of the most renowned didnt form a cohesive movement in their own time. Slideshare uses cookies to improve functionality and performance, and to provide you with relevant advertising. Metaphysical poetry metaphysical poetry in english literature. Metaphysical poets a group of 17thcentury poets whose works are marked by philosophical exploration, colloquial diction, ingenious conceits, irony, and metrically flexible lines. In metaphysical poetry, an obvious use of sex and sexual innuendos is prevalent, as opposed to earlier times when it was rarely even mentioned. It is clearly not exhaustive, but, at the moment, it seems the best of the competition. The term metaphysical poets is believed to be coined by samuel johnson. This is a term used for a group of 17thcentury poets donne and herbert, vaughan, crashaw, marvell, and othersin america, edward taylor who are not really a school of poetry but simply seem to use very similar poetic techniques. Metaphysical definition is of or relating to metaphysics. Definition of metaphysical poetry youve probably heard of haikus, lyrical poems and limericks.
The term metaphysical denotes a movement in poetry rather than a type of poetry. Characteristics of metaphysical poetry in english literature. Metaphysical poetry definition is highly intellectualized poetry marked by bold and ingenious conceits, incongruous imagery, complexity and subtlety of thought, frequent use of paradox, and often by deliberate harshness or rigidity of expression. Metaphysical poetry eludes all attempts at definition, and the critics have. The metaphysical poets are obviously not the only poets to deal with this subject matter, so there are a number. George herbert 3 april 1593 1 march 1633 was a welshborn english poet, orator and anglican priest. The poems classified in this group do share common characteristics. Metaphysical poetry is concerned with the whole experience of man, but the intelligence, learning and seriousness of the poets means that the poetry is about the profound areas of experience especially about love, romantic and sensual. Metaphysical poet, any of the poets in 17thcentury england who inclined to the personal and intellectual complexity and concentration that is displayed in the poetry of john donne, the chief of the metaphysicals. Metaphysical poets 1 metaphysical poets john donne, one of the most famous metaphysical poets. Other articles where metaphysical conceit is discussed. Metaphysics meaning in the cambridge english dictionary. Characteristics of metaphysical poetry i concentration concentration is one of the major features of metaphysical poetry.
Johnson decried its roughness and violation of decorum, the deliberate mixture of different styles. The use of geometric conceits in exposition of love in. Poetry written in england during the reign of queen victoria 18371901 may be referred to as victorian poetry. A comparative study of amichai, one of israels leading poets and the most translated one, and the english metaphysical poets of the 17th century, notably donne, may help us to appreciate and to. Lyric poetry is poetry written in the first person and is generally about deep emotions of an amazing personal experience. The language, used by metaphysical poets is highly evocative and infused with multidimensional meaning. The metaphysical conceit, associated with the metaphysical poets of the 17th century, is a more intricate and intellectual device. Metaphysical poetry is a vast topic to discuss, but to put in a nutshell, the type of poetry, which is about the correlation between the physical realm and spiritual realm, soul and being, real and conceptual, along with the forms of reality and insight, using the methodologies of philosophy. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. This is a very broad term, but it joins together a number of 17 th century poets, most notable among them john donne, george herbert, richard crashaw, andrew marvell, henry vaughn and abraham cowley. The term metaphysical poets was coined by the critic samuel johnson to describe a loose group of 17thcentury english poets whose work was characterized by the inventive use of conceits, and by a greater emphasis on the spoken rather than lyrical quality of their verse. Literary critic and poet samuel johnson first coined the term metaphysical poetry in his book lives of the most eminent english poets 1179. With thee o let me rise as larks, harmoniously, and sing this day thy victories.
The metaphysical poets, who wrote during the first three quarters of the 17th. Though the name itself is a misnomer, but by the term metaphysical poetry we do not only understand the poetry written by john donne and a few other followers, including george herbert, john cleveland, richard crashaw, henry vaughan, andrew marvell, and abraham cowley in the 17th century. Essay on techniques used in the writing of metaphysical poetry. The term metaphysics comes from aristotle it means a science which investigates being as being ie reality rather than poetic convention. Herberts poetry is associated with the writings of the metaphysical poets, and he is recognized as a pivotal figure. Metaphysical poetry the term metaphysical is used to designate the work of 17thcentury writers who were part of a school of poets using similar methods and who revolted against the romantic conventionalism of elizabethan love poetry, in particular the petrarchan conceit. Metaphysical poets are also very well known for employing a literary device called a conceit. This is a short introducution to metaphysical poetry and john donne. John donnes many poems are best examples in this regard. Following romanticism, victorian poets continued many of the previous eras main themes, such as religious skepticism and valorization of the artist as genius. This school of poetry, more than most others, demands close reading and intelligent decoding of poetic works. Metaphysical definition of metaphysical by merriamwebster.
I attempt, hazardously perhaps, to include all the poetry that is pertinent, and to exclude all that is not truly metaphysical. Metaphysical poetry definition of metaphysical poetry by. The definition of love is an ironic game more a love of definition let loose. Unmetaphysical definition of unmetaphysical by the free dictionary. Others include henry vaughan, andrew marvell, john cleveland, and abraham cowley as. Andrew marvell, metaphysical poetry, conceits, complexity, allusions. The phrase metaphysical poetry derives from the scornful remarks of some restoration and 18th century critics.
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