Metaphysical Poetry

Metaphysical Poetry Dasha Baker | | Adrian Salazar Glen Paul Florendo |

THE MOVEMENT17th Century • Metaphysical – ‘transcend above or beyond the physical or concrete,’ representing the non-material and supernatural • The metaphysical poetry movement sought greater depth in its verse. • The metaphysical poets defined and compared their subjects through nature, philosophy, love, and musings about the hereafter. They aimed to minimize their place within the poem so they may to look beyond the obvious.

Poetic Themes • Experience of man • Life • Love & Romance • Sensual Desires • Man’s relationship with God • Etc.

Poetic Techniques • Lyric poems — any short poem that expresses thoughts and feelings • Wit — elements designed to make audience laugh or feel amused • In metaphysical poetry, wit denotes intelligence and originality, using paradoxes to make clever and concise expressions • Irony — actual meaning is expressed in words that carry the opposite meaning • Pun — a play on words that are identical in sound but have different meanings

Poetic Techniques • Allusion — A reference/representation to people, places, events, literary works, works of art, or myths • Conceits — An extended metaphor with complex logic, expressed through an analogy to show similarity between two very dissimilar things • Imagery — images induced by words • Rhyme — close similarity of sound between syllables in corresponding lines • Meter — the repetition of regular rhythmic unit in a line of poetry (each unit of meter is known as a foot)

George Herbert • John Donne, the father of metaphysical poetry, dedicated his Holy Sonnets to George’s mother after his father’s death. • Sent his first two sonnets to his mother in 1610 • Prefers the subject of God instead of the love of a woman • His first verses were published in 1612, which were in Latin and on the subject of the death of Prince Henry • Herbert’s mother died in 1627 and Donne delivered her funeral sermon Notable Works: “Easter Wings” “The Collar” “Jordan (I)” “Love (III)” “The Windows”

George Herbert • Herbert took holy orders in the Church of England in 1630 and spent the rest of his life as a rector in Bremerton • Known as the “Holy Mr. Herbert” around the countryside • Poems are characterized by precision of language, a metrical versatility, and ingenious use of imagery • Poems celebrate the ways of God’s love as Herbert discovered them within the fluctuations of his own experience Notable Works: “Easter Wings” “The Collar” “Jordan (I)” “Love (III)” “The Windows”

EasterWings George Herbert

John DonnE • Born to a prosperous Roman Catholic family (precarious during the time of Anti-Catholic sentiment in England) • Father died when he was four, leaving him and his two other siblings to be raised by their mother • His uncle headed an underground Jesuit mission in England, was caught, imprisoned, then exiled. • Brother Henry died of a fever in prison for being arrested for giving sanctuary to a proscribed Catholic priest (questions faith). • Converts to Anglicanism Notable Works: “A Valediction Forbidding Mourning” “The Sun Rising” “Death Be Not Proud” “Woman’s Constancy” “Love’s Alchemy”

John DonnE • Married Ann More, the daughter of Sir George More, killing his career • Took holy order to the Church of England • Wife died of childbirth • His intent was not for publication, but wrote poems to show to friends who would understand his references. • Known as the first and greatest of metaphysical poets Notable Works: “A Valediction Forbidding Mourning” “The Sun Rising” “Death Be Not Proud” “Woman’s Constancy” “Love’s Alchemy”

Death, benot proud John Donne

Writing Prompts • Carefully read “Death Be Not Proud” by John Donne. Then, in well-organized essay, analyze how the speaker uses syntax, figurative language, and diction to reveal his attitude about death. • Carefully read “Easter Wings” by George Herbert. Considering such literary elements such as diction, imagery, stanza structure, etc., write a well-organized essay that examines the poem’s view of religion.

QUIZ

Quiz 1) In plain English, the title “Valediction: Forbidding Mourning” means— a. a graduation speech commending the senior class b. a greeting to a person who had been thought missing c. a vow never to fall in love again d. a farewell urging the listener not to be sad

Quiz 2) The scene described in the first stanza is— a. a childbirth c. a birthday b. a wedding d. a deathbed

Quiz 3) Lines 7–8, “’Twere profanation of our joys / To tell the laity our love,” mean— a. our love is profane but confessing it would absolve us b. we are the only happy people in a society of miserable souls c. our love is so sacred that we should not speak of it to others d. mere physical love is very different from true spiritual love

Quiz 4) What phrase does the speaker use to describe the opposite of his and his wife’s love? a. “Dull sublunary lovers’ love . . .” b. “a love, so much refined . . .” c. “Our two souls therefore, which are one . . .” d. “Care less eyes, lips, and hands to miss.”

Quiz 5) In a simile in line 24, the lovers’ souls are said to resemble gold in that they— a. are rare and precious b. are the envy of the world c. are beautiful d. can be drawn thin without being broken

Quiz 6) According to the speaker, absence from a lover is easiest to bear when the— a. couple have not known each other very long b. attraction is only on the surface c. two people are extremely close d. pair have been separated for a long time

Quiz 7) The device that the speaker compares his and his wife’s love to is for— a. finding true north c. measuring angles b. drawing circles d. measuring distances

Quiz 8) In line 27, “Thy soul, the fixed foot” means that the— a. speaker is the moving needle on the compass b. speaker’s wife has had successful surgery on her foot c. speaker’s wife likes to make puns about the words soul and sole d. speaker’s wife is the prong of the compass that remains still in the center

Quiz 9) In the poem, the speaker tells his loved one that a public display of emotion will a. serve as a model for others b. heighten their mutual regard c. diminish a spiritual relationship d. make onlookers envious of their relationship

Quiz 10) The compass conceit in “A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning” can be seen in lines— a. 1–8 c. 21–24 b. 13–16 d. 25–36

Resources • http://www.poetryfoundation.org • http://www.luminarium.org • http://www.poets.org

Metaphysical Poetry