Post on 11-Aug-2015
transcript
“Metaphysical poetry, in the full sense of the term, is a poetry which has been inspired by a philosophical conception of the universe and the role assigned to the human spirit in the great drama of existence.”
- Grierson
Poetry dating from the 17th century in Britain that has an abstract and ethereal style.
The term was 1st coined by John Dryden in 1693 when he described a poem by John Donne as affecting “the metaphysical.”
Later popularized by Samuel Johnson(1709-1784) in 1781.
‘meta’ = after‘metaphysical’ = after the physical
Metaphysics deal with questions that can’t be explained by science.
Questions the nature of reality in a philosophical way.
E.g.: -Does God exist?
-What is the difference between reality and perception?
-Is everything that happens already predetermined? If so, then is free choice non-existent?
-Is consciousness limited to the brain?Cover a broad range of topics from religious to
consciousness.Metaphysics is about exploration and philosophy,
not about science and math.The metaphysical poets were men of learning.
CENTRAL FIGURES OF METAPHYSICAL POETRY…
Andrew Marvell
George Herbert
Henry Vaughan Richar
d Crashaw
John
Donne
John Donne…
Donne (1572 – 1631) was the most influential metaphysical poet. His personal relationship with spirituality is at the center of most of his work, and the psychological analysis and sexual realism of his work marked a dramatic departure from traditional, genteel verse.
CHARACTERISTICS… Concentration
Metaphysical
Conceit
Reliance On
Intellectual Wit
Subtle Argument
Cynicism
Learnedness
Mechanism of
Sensibility
Abrupt Opening
Metrical Harshness
Dramatic Effect
Learned Imagery
Comparisons
THEMES
Religious Sentiment Humanity of Life
Softness of Love
Sexual Realism
New Philosophy
Politics
Humour
With no specific negative points except for the
concentration of thought,
metaphysical poetry has
proved to be an all rounder still
challenging every reader at
first sight.