Metaphysical Poetry

metaphysical poets The metaphysical poets is a term coined by the poet and dilettante John Dryden to describe a loose classify of British lyric poets of the 17th century, whose work was characterized by the inventive use of conceits, and by speculation rough topics such as love or religion. These poets were non formally affiliated most of them did not even know or read each other.Their flare was characterized by wit and metaphysical conceitsfar-fetched or ridiculous similes or metaphors, such as in Andrew Marvells comparison of the soul with a drop of dew in an expanded epigram format, with the use of simple measure forms, octosyllabic couplets, quatrains or stanzas in which length of controversy and rhyme scheme enforce the sense. The specific rendering of wit which Johnson applied to the school was a conformation of discordia concors a combination of dissimilar images, or discovery of occult resemblances in things apparently unlike. Their metrical composition diverged f rom the behavior of their snips, containing neither images of nature nor allusions to classical mythology, as were common. some(prenominal) metaphysical poets, especially John Donne, were influenced by Neo-Platonism. genius of the primary Platonic concepts found in metaphysical poetry is the appraisal that the unadulteratedion of beauty in the beloved acted as a remembrance of perfect beauty in the eternal realm. Though unconsecrated topics such as scientific or geographic discoveries interested them, there was also a spiritual or casuistic ele custodyt to some of their work, by which they attempted to define their relation institutionalize with God.John Donne (between 24 January and 19 June 1572 31 March 1631) was an English poet, satirist, lawyer and a cleric in the Church of England. He is considered the pre-eminent exercise of the metaphysical poets. His works are noted for their strong, animal(a) style and include sonnets, love poetry, religious poems, Latin translat ions, epigrams, elegies, songs, satires and sermons. His poetry is noted for its vibrancy of language and ingeniousness of metaphor, especially compared to that of his contemporaries. Donnes style is characterised by abrupt openings and non-homogeneous paradoxes, ironies and dislocations.These features, along with his frequent dramatic or unremarkable speech rhythms, his tense syntax and his tough eloquence, were some(prenominal) a reaction against the smoothness of conventional Elizabethan poetry and an adaptation into English of European churrigueresco and mannerist techniques. His early career was marked by poetry that bore immense knowledge of British gild and he met that knowledge with sharp criticism. Another authoritative theme in Donnes poetry is the idea of true religion, something that he spent much time considering and theorising about.He wrote secular poems as well as erotic and love poems. He is particularly famous for his control of metaphysical conceits. A Bur nt ShipOut of a laid-off ship, which by no wayBut drowning could be rescued from the flame,Some men leapd forth, and ever as they cameNear the foes ships, did by their shot crumbleSo all were lost, which in the ship were found,They in the sea being burnt, they in the burnt ship drownd. John Donne A Lame BeggarI am unable, yon beggar cries,To stand, or move if he put true, he lies. John Donne