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The Life and Poetry of a Satirical Metaphysical Poet

Explore the life and works of a 17th century poet who used satire to attack his enemies. Learn about the Metaphysical poets and their unique style of tackling serious subjects with wit and wordplay. Discover the themes of time and Carpe Diem in his poems.

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The Life and Poetry of a Satirical Metaphysical Poet

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  1. Born in Hull in 1621. At the age of 12, he began his studies at Trinity College, Cambridge. His studies were brought to an abrupt end when he was 20 with his father’s death. He spent much of the 1640s travelling round Europe and managed to miss fighting in the English civil war…but did return to become first a tutor and then an MP and used satire to great effect to attack his political enemies, especially the rich and landowning loyalists. His death, in 1678, was supposedly of a fever, but a religious group, the Jesuits, whom he had attacked, were suspected of poisoning him. Want to know more? CLICK HERE (this is an external link to Wikipedia.org)

  2. The Metaphysical poets A group of poets from the early 1600s who were concerned with the subject of what it is to be human and tended to concentrate on those aspects that seem to set us aside from other animals. They dealt with serious topics such as love and the relationship between man and God. The structure of the poetry reflects the content and they are often structured as arguments. Metaphysical poems are characterised by the use of wit, irony and wordplay and although often comic on the surface, deal with serious topics underneath. To read more about the Metaphysicals click here (this is an external link)

  3. time Had we but world enough, and The poem opens straight away with the theme – that of time. It examines the brevity of life with an argument to ‘seize the day.’ – Carpe Diem.

  4. As in any argument, we begin with the problem. What is the problem that needs resolving? Had we but world enough, and time,This coyness, Lady, were no crime.We would sit down and think which wayTo walk and pass our long love's day.

  5. Structure and form The poem has octosyllabic lines (eight syllables per line) and contains rhyming couplets. Had we but world enough, and time,This coyness, Lady, were no crime.We would sit down and think which wayTo walk and pass our long love's day. The regular rhythm and rhyme helps to give the poem an almost comic feel which contrasts strongly with the underlying theme of life and death. A Lyric poem deals with a single theme with a goal of evoking emotion. It presents a single speaker who presents his / her thoughts.

  6. http://www.flickr.com/photos/cirque-du-pablo/2215467828/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/falsepositives/2879202638/ Flattery Thou by the Indian Ganges' sideShould’st rubies find; I by the tideOf Humber would complain. Him: by the side of the River Humber in Hull Her: by the side of the River Ganges in India with rubies What effect does this comparison have?

  7. Why does he say he would have loved her ten years before Noah’s Ark (meant to have happened over 4000 years ago)? I wouldLove you ten years before the Flood, And you should, if you please, refuseTill the conversion of the Jews. And he will love her until the Jews become Christian. This event is recorded in Christian texts as taking place just before the end of the world… So, how long will he love her? What is the effect of this hyperbole (exaggeration)?

  8. How is time used to praise and flatter her? A hundred years should go to praiseThine eyes, and on thy forehead gaze,Two hundred to adore each breast,But thirty thousand to the rest;An age at least to every part,And the last age should show your heart.

  9. What threats is he making? Thy beauty shall no more be found,Nor, in thy marble vault, shall soundMy echoing song; then worms shall tryThat long preserved virginity,And your quaint honour turn to dust,And into ashes all my lust: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jaqian/148765120/ The grave's a fine and private place,But none, I think, do there embrace http://www.flickr.com/photos/nostri-imago/3161934616/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/jylcat/133930052/

  10. Now for the final part of the poem. The threats disappear but how does he now talk to her?How has his speech become more positive? Now therefore, while the youthful hueSits on thy skin like morning dew,And while thy willing soul transpiresAt every pore with instant fires,

  11. Return of togetherness Lots of positive strong images. Let us roll all our strength and allOur sweetness, up into one ball,And tear our pleasures with rough strifeThorough the iron gates of life. Strong image of breaking through the ‘iron gates’ of time.

  12. Return of the image of the sun and time. What is the final point made? Thus, though we cannot make our sunStand still, yet we will make him run. On the surface, this is a poem about the attempted seduction of a woman… what is the message underneath about how we should live our lives?

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