Renaissance Poetry John Donne 1572-1631

1. Renaissance PoetryJohn Donne1572-1631 Metaphysical Poetry Prose

2. OBJECTIVES Develop strategies for reading and analyze metaphysical poetry Interpret metaphysical conceits and paradoxes Compare/contrast poetry styles

3. METAPHYSICAL (p. 506-507) • What is the definition of metaphysical? • “of or relating to the transcendent” • “reality beyond what is perceptible” • “abstract and theoretical reasoning”

4. METAPHYSICAL (p. 506-507) What does transcendent mean? What does theoretical mean? What does devotional mean? What does mystical mean? Now define metaphysical poetry in your own words. Share.

5. METAPHYSICAL • Transcendent- • Extending beyond the limits of ordinary experience and knowledge • Theoretical- • Abstract, confined to speculation (ponder the possibility rather than able to demonstrate) • Devotional- • Religious • Mystical- • Spiritual communication with God

6. METAPHYSICAL Now define metaphysical poetry in your own words. Share.

7. METAPHYSICAL(p. 506-507) What is the goal/purpose of the metaphysical poets? What are the key characteristics of metaphysical poetry? What were the primary criticisms made about the metaphysics?

8. METAPHYSICAL (p. 506-507) • What is the goal/purpose of the metaphysical poets? • The expression of feeling and spiritual devotion through techniques often associated with prose (argument, rhetoric, logic) rather than poetry. • To experiment with language in an attempt to represent the complexity of life

9. METAPHYSICAL (p. 506-507) • What are the key characteristics of metaphysical poetry? • Simple vocabulary • Metaphysical conceits • Inconsistent poetic meter • Witty word play • Use of logic/reasoning • Set up as an argument, uses rhetorical devices

10. METAPHYSICAL (p. 506-507) • What were the primary criticisms made about the metaphysics? • Use poetry just to “show off” knowledge • Uses logic where emotion should rule • Difficult to understand • Disrupts poetic meter

11. METAPHYSICAL Explain Eliot’s compliment of the metaphysical poets that they were able to “feel their thought as immediately as the odor of a rose.”

12. COMPARE/CONTRASTComplete the chart ELIZABETHAN METAPHYSICAL • Ornamental diction • Natural images • Heartfelt emotion • Regular meter • Focus on love and nature • Two-word paradoxes such as “Sweet Sorrow”

13. COMPARE/CONTRASTComplete the chart ELIZABETHAN METAPHYSICAL Plain diction Unusual images Wit and intellect/logic Irregular meter Often about faith and death (even when about love) Jarring and elaborate paradoxes such as love/hate Use of metaphysical conceits-unexpected, more “intellectual” and less “poetical” • Ornamental diction • Natural images • Heartfelt emotion • Regular meter • Focus on love and nature • Two-word paradoxes such as “Sweet Sorrow” • Uses comparisons considered “poetic” such as love to a rose or the sea

14. Practice p. 507 Restate the excerpt from “The Canonization” by rewriting it in prose, untangling the complex syntax and paraphrasing its meaning. Identify the metaphysical conceit. Share

15. SAMPLE We can die by love even if we cannot live by love. Our legend may be unsuitable for either a tomb’s inscription or a hearse, but it is fitting for poetry. And even if no history gives an account of our love, it will be perfectly immortalized in poetry. The metaphysical conceit is the comparison of their love, fitting to poetry, to a legend that immortalizes what it records.

16. Practice #2 p. 507 Close read of “A Fever”

17. John Donne1572-1631 Biographical information Meditation 17 Holy Sonnet 10 A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning

18. BIOGRAPHICAL EXPLORATION How does his notable quote reflect the Renaissance era? Based upon the description on page 508 how might the following statement best be completed: Donne was a man who himself was a _________. What is revealed about Donne under the heading “Impoverished by Love?”

19. TERMS REVIEW-Metaphysical Conceit Definition Explain the metaphysical conceit in the following: Other artists seek success, But she found it a deceptive goal- A steep bridge full of pain and stress, Hard to cross, and not worth the toll.

20. TERMS REVIEW-PARADOX Define Explain the paradox and provide a concrete example To succeed is to fail Take the idea from the example for the metaphysical conceit and write it as a paradox.

21. Example The search for success is a painful joy.

22. ASSIGNMENT Read Meditation 17. Answer questions B & C posed on page 514; answer questions 1, 2, 3, and second part of 6 p. 515. Read Holy Sonnet 10 and write a poetry analysis items 1-5. As well as answer questions 1 & 2 on p. 513 and #9 on page 515. *Be prepared to compare/contrast subject matter, tone, style, techniques in the two selections.

23. DISCUSSION Discuss writing prompt and Meditation 17 answers to the questions. Identify the techniques/rhetorical devices used in the piece.

24. John Donne-Writing Prompt • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tijW_SrCoxs • Explain what you believe Donne’s opinion of the song lyrics for “Boulevard of Broken Dreams” would be and why.

25. RIDDLE • Why did Frosty go to live in the middle of the ocean? • Because snow man is an island!! • Claire Wilson, 2012

26. American Gods excerpt • Pages 322-323 • Which stance do you personally hold, that expressed by Donne or that expressed by Gaiman? Explain.

27. DISCUSSION Discuss/Share Holy Sonnet 10 and assignment Compare/contrast subject, theme, style, and tone between Sonnet 10 and Meditation 17

28. ASSIGNMENT 3. Read A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning Answer question A, 1 and 2 on page 512 Answer questions 4-8 on page 515. Poetry analysis items 5 & 6 and your own question creation (see item 7)

29. DISCUSSION A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning Significance of the title & its punctuation Discuss questions and poetry analysis