Metaphysical poetry

Here is my task on metaphysical poetry given by Dr. Dillip Barad Sir Head of English Department.

• METAPHYSICAL POETRY :

         

The term metaphysical or metaphysics in poetry is the fruit of renaissance tree, becoming over ripe and approaching pure science."META"means"beyond"and"Physics"means"Physical nature".Metaphysical poetry means poetry that goes beyond the physical world of the senses and explores the spiritual world .Metaphysical poetry began early in the JACOBEAN AGE in the last stage of the age of Shakespeare.

In the first half of the 17th century,a group of poets emerged who'es poetry is known as "THE METAPHYSICAL POETRY". Since John Donne was the pioneer of this group ,it is also known as THE SCHOOL OF JOHN DONNE .The other poet who followed footstep of John Donne were George Herbert , Andrew Marvell and Abraham Cowley and Robert Herrick .These poet try to followed the style of writing poetry which was initially cultivated by John Donne.

• Characteristic of Metaphysical poetry :

The metaphysical poetry has been extensively commented upon by Dr. Samuel Johnson . In his biographical work "THE LIVES" while writing about the life of couly .Dr. Johnson try to interpret The Metaphysical poetry and it's features.Jonson find's following feature in the metaphysical poetry of Donne and his school.

• Conscious Attempt  : 

All the metaphysical poets made a conscious attempt to differ in the style of writing poetry from the former poets .They were not whiling to continuous writing poetry in a same manner just like Shakespeare,Spencer,Philip Sydney,Christopher Marlowe and others.They wanted to make their poetry look different from the former poet.It was the conscious attempts to part with the exciting style writing poetry and to cultivate a new style.

critics find two reasons for then desire to differ from the former poet. The first reason is that they were fully aware of the fact that they would have been rejected had they continuous writing poetry in the same way. The invention of printing press help a lot in expanding education and literacy so people were also retrait  and it was then demand to have new kind of poetry.This demand of the people for a new type of poetry was served by metaphysical poetry.

All the metaphysical were literate and degree holder they wanted to exhibit then learning and scholarships and so they tried to differ from the former poets.

• Far Fetched Image : 

Far fetched images and conciets is one more feature of the metaphysical poetry. They never tried to use and express their images from that field with which the theme of the poetry was concerned.They tried to bring there images from those field which have nothing to do with the theme of there poems so they are called far fetched images.

In tried to bring there images from the branches and areas just like agriculture mechanical engineering , architecture ,biology Geometry and many other field which have nothing common with the theme of there poems.Such a practice drew attention of the readers and it made them establish poets Herbert borrowed image from architecture and mechanical engineering . The best example are "The church porch" and "The Pulley" marvell made use of Geometrical and agricultural images.The best example is "To His Coy Mistress" Donne made use almost all type of images in his poetry.This kind of practice was and experiment for them in which they successfully.

• Dramatic manner and direct tone of speech is one of the main characteristics of metaphysical poetry,In the starting line of the poem "The Canonization"-there are is given a dramatic starting -

"For God' sake hold your tongue , and let me love".

• Concentration is an important quality of metaphysical poetry in general and Donne's poetry is particular.In his all poems, the reader is held to one idea or line of argument. Donne's poems are brief and closely woven. In "The Extasie", the principle argument is that the function of man as a man is being worthily performed through different acts of love. He continues with the theme without digression. For example ,

"As 'twixt two equal armies, Fate 

Suspends uncertain victorie,

Our souls,(which to advance their state,

Were gone out,)hung 'twixt her and me".

• Wit is another characteristic of metaphysical poetry. So, here we find various allusion and images relating to practicality all areas of nature and art and learning to medicine, cosmology,contemporary discoveries, ancient myth, history, law and art .For instance, in "The Ecstacy", Donne uses the belief of the blood containing certain spirits which acts as intermediary between soul and body -

"As our blood labours to get

Spirits, as like souls, as it can,

Because such fingers need to knit

That subtle knot,which makes us man:"

In the same poem, the Ptolemaic system of astrology is also used when he says - 

"...We are

The intelligence, they the sphere."

• Usage of satire and irony is another characteristic of metaphysical poetry . Donne also uses this in his poems.For example, in "Canonization", there is subtle irony as he speaks of the favoured pursuits of people - the lust for wealth and favours.

"Take you a course, get you a place,

Observe his honour, or his Grace".

• Major Metaphysical Poets : 

1. John Donne
2. George Herbert
3. Andrew Marvell
4. Saint Robert Southwell
5. Richard Crashaw
6. Thomas Traheme
7. Henry Vaughan

• John Donne as metaphysical poet :

John Donne was the most original and the Father of the Metaphysical School of poetry . His poetry is revolutionary. His style is original.His images are personal. He replaces passion, sentiment and sensuality with wit, elegance and realistic tone. He also used hyperboles.

Donne's poems can be divided into three groups-

# Love Poems#

#Divine Sonnet#

#Satires#

In satires, Donne is highly witty and in love poems highly realistic. The first point which strikes a reader reading his love poetry is surprising directness of the speaking voice and diction;

"For God's sake hold your tongue and me love"

His love poetry is highly dramatic and it seems he is talking to his beloved and is never sentimental. His poem "The Sun Rising "is a highly colloquial in tone and dramatic in presentation. Similarly in "Sweetest Love I Do Not Go For Wearing Of Thee" has originality which comes out in the careful subtlety of the poem's argument.He was a conscious artist and avoids conventions,fluency of movement and courtliness of  diction.

• Metaphysical Poetry By John Donne : 

"The Sun Rising"

"Death Be Not Proud (Holy Sonnet)

"The Flea"

"The Dream"

"Sweetest Love,I Do Not Go"

"The Ecstacy"

# Sweetest Love , I Do Not Go #

"Sweetest Love I Do Not Go "analysis shows that it is from the collection of "Love Poem"of John Donne .In this poem, he is addressing to his wife Anne Moore. The theme of the poem is parting; therefor, the poet consoles his wife. Poet was departing for Europe in 1611. This poem is an expression of those feeling, which he has experienced when he wan away from his wife. Donne was gravely in love with her. It seems that she is unable to differentiate between parting and death. Death is also a kind of parting from near and dear ones;therefor,the situation of departing is also not different from death. However, the poet consoles his wife while saying that she should not become tearful and should face this situation. Click to read the actual poem on poetryfoundation .org.

# The Sun Rising #

"The Sun Rising" analysis shows that it is famous love  poem of John Donne from "Song and Sonnet". In fact, due to this beautiful poem , John Donne gained fame in the world of literature. The poem is entirely unexpected and unconventional, due to which readers have experienced a new kind of poetic wit. Many poets and critics have done analysis of "The Sun Rising"but none of them criticized it. Every poet,writer and critic appreciated the imagery,background,setting and style of the poem. One of the main reasons due to which this poem is famous is its start. It opens with abrupt colloquial dialogue. Moreover,it shocks the readers from its initial lines. Donne is famous for being unromantic, highly realistic and making witty remarks.
Click here to read the whole poem.

S. T. Coleridge has also done analysis of 'The Sun Rising". His comment are worth mentioning :

The poem is characterised by "true ,vigorous 

exultation, both soul and body in full nuisance."

• Andrew Marvell As A Metaphysical poet :

Andrew Marvell ,(born march 31,1621),Winestead, Yorkshire, England -died August 18, 1678,London), English poet whose political reputation overshadowed that of his poetry until the 20th century.He his now considered to be one of the best Metaphysical poets.

# To His Coy Mistress #

Andrew Marvell in his poem "To His Coy Mistress" demonstrates two characteristic of poetry we , today, categorize as metaphysical .

He uses stretched metaphors, for example . In part one of his syllogism, or logical argument designed to convince his target -a woman--to sleep with him , he is refers to their love as "vegetable love". The idea is that if they were immortal and could spend centuries in the wooing stage of love making, their love could grow as slow as a vegetable. The metaphor is stretched, of course. The slow growing rate of a vegetable is not normally compared to love growing .

Secondly ,Marvell display and revels in his wit and intelligence and learning. In the second part of his syllogism, in which he centers on the mortality of humans, he conclude with

The grave's a fine and private place,

But none, I think , do there embrace.

And later, in part three, he says that the lovers should be like "amorous birds of prey." The grave couplet demonstrates his wit and keeps the poem a little lighter than the morbid imagery might otherwise make it. The comparison of lovers to loving predators demonstrates both a stretched metaphor and wit. The stretched metaphor, the wit displayed, and, additionally, the carpe diem theme, mark Marvell as a metaphysical poet.

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