MetaphysicalMetaphysical Style in Andrew Style in Andrew Marvell's Writing. Marvell's Writing.

Andrew Marvell Andrew Marvell (1621-1678)(1621-1678)

What is What is Metaphysical Metaphysical PoePoem? m?

• Metaphysical poem is lyrical poem of 17th century.

• The word “meta” means beyond, and “physics”

means science of concrete things. So, metaphysics

means a subject that deals with things, which do not

have concrete shape.

Characteristics of Characteristics of Metaphysical PoeMetaphysical Poemm(1) The abrupt beginning.

(2) The language of a metaphysical poetry is colloquial.

(3) The use of conceits.

(4) In metaphysical poetry a dramatic effect has been produced.

(5) Presentation of metaphysical poetry must be argumentative.

Themes Themes Metaphysical Metaphysical PoePoemm

• The metaphysical poem’s major themes were

• love

• death

• religious faith.

Theme of “To His Coy Mistress”:

• Love

Theme of “The Definition of Love”:

• Love

The Abrupt BeginningThe Abrupt Beginning• To His Coy Mistress: First two lines

“Had we but world enough and Time,

This coyness Lady were no crime.”

• The Definition of Love: First two lines

“My love is of a birth as rare

As ’tis for object strange and high”

Colloquial LanguageColloquial Language• To His Coy Mistress:

“Thou by the Indian Ganges side

Shouldst Rubies find: I by the Tide

Of Humber would complain.”

• The Definition of Love:

Therefore the love which us doth bind,

But Fate so enviously debars,

Is the conjunction of the mind,

And opposition of the stars.

Imagery and ConceitsImagery and Conceits

To His Coy Mistress:

• Vegetable love

• Winged chariot hurrying near

The Definition of Love:

• The poet says that his love was ‘begotten by Despair upon

impossibility’

• The poet says that the love of poet and his beloved are like

two parallel lines.

• The poet also compares their position with opposition of stars.

Argumentative Argumentative PresentationPresentation

• To His Coy Mistress:

“The Graves a fine and private place

But none I think do there embrace.”

• The Definition of Love:

“As lines so Loves oblique may well

Themselves in every Angle greet:

But ours so truly parallel,

Through infinite can never meet.”