Renaissance Poetry
John Donne
1572-1631
Metaphysical Poetry
Prose
OBJECTIVES
 Develop strategies for reading and analyze
metaphysical poetry
 Interpret metaphysical conceits and
paradoxes
 Compare/contrast poetry styles
METAPHYSICAL (p. 506-507)
 What is the definition of metaphysical?
– “of or relating to the transcendent”
– “reality beyond what is perceptible”
– “abstract and theoretical reasoning”
METAPHYSICAL (p. 506-507)
 What does transcendent mean?
 What does theoretical mean?
 What does devotional mean?
 What does mystical mean?
 Now define metaphysical poetry in your
own words. Share.
METAPHYSICAL
 Transcendent– Extending beyond the limits of ordinary experience
and knowledge
 Theoretical– Abstract, confined to speculation (ponder the
possibility rather than able to demonstrate)
 Devotional– Religious
 Mystical– Spiritual communication with God
METAPHYSICAL
 Now define metaphysical poetry in your
own words. Share.
METAPHYSICAL
(p. 506-507)
 What is the goal/purpose of the
metaphysical poets?
 What are the key characteristics of
metaphysical poetry?
 What were the primary criticisms made
about the metaphysics?
METAPHYSICAL (p. 506-507)
 What is the goal/purpose of the
metaphysical poets?
– The expression of feeling and spiritual
devotion through techniques often associated
with prose (argument, rhetoric, logic) rather
than poetry.
– To experiment with language in an attempt to
represent the complexity of life
METAPHYSICAL (p. 506-507)
 What are the key characteristics of
metaphysical poetry?
– Simple vocabulary
– Metaphysical conceits
– Inconsistent poetic meter
– Witty word play
– Use of logic/reasoning
– Set up as an argument, uses rhetorical devices
METAPHYSICAL (p. 506-507)
 What were the primary criticisms made
about the metaphysics?
– Use poetry just to “show off” knowledge
– Uses logic where emotion should rule
– Difficult to understand
– Disrupts poetic meter
METAPHYSICAL
 Explain Eliot’s compliment of the
metaphysical poets that they were able to
“feel their thought as immediately as the
odor of a rose.”
COMPARE/CONTRAST
Complete the chart
ELIZABETHAN
 Ornamental diction
 Natural images
 Heartfelt emotion
 Regular meter
 Focus on love and nature
 Two-word paradoxes such
as “Sweet Sorrow”
METAPHYSICAL
COMPARE/CONTRAST
Complete the chart
ELIZABETHAN
 Ornamental diction
 Natural images
 Heartfelt emotion
 Regular meter
 Focus on love and nature
 Two-word paradoxes such
as “Sweet Sorrow”
 Uses comparisons
considered “poetic” such as
love to a rose or the sea
METAPHYSICAL





Plain diction
Unusual images
Wit and intellect/logic
Irregular meter
Often about faith and death
(even when about love)
 Jarring and elaborate
paradoxes such as love/hate
 Use of metaphysical conceitsunexpected, more “intellectual”
and less “poetical”
Practice p. 507
 Restate the excerpt from “The
Canonization” by rewriting it in prose,
untangling the complex syntax and
paraphrasing its meaning. Identify the
metaphysical conceit.
 Share
SAMPLE
 We can die by love even if we cannot live by
love. Our legend may be unsuitable for either a
tomb’s inscription or a hearse, but it is fitting for
poetry. And even if no history gives an account
of our love, it will be perfectly immortalized in
poetry.
 The metaphysical conceit is the comparison of
their love, fitting to poetry, to a legend that
immortalizes what it records.
Practice #2 p. 507
 Close read of “A Fever”
John Donne
1572-1631
Biographical
information
Meditation 17
Holy Sonnet 10
A Valediction:
Forbidding Mourning
BIOGRAPHICAL
EXPLORATION
 How does his notable quote reflect the
Renaissance era?
 Based upon the description on page 508
how might the following statement best be
completed: Donne was a man who
himself was a _________.
 What is revealed about Donne under the
heading “Impoverished by Love?”
TERMS REVIEWMetaphysical Conceit
 Definition
 Explain the metaphysical conceit in the
following:
Other artists seek success,
But she found it a deceptive goalA steep bridge full of pain and stress,
Hard to cross, and not worth the toll.
TERMS REVIEWPARADOX
 Define
 Explain the paradox and provide a
concrete example
 To succeed is to fail
 Take the idea from the example for the
metaphysical conceit and write it as a
paradox.
Example
 The search for success is a painful joy.
ASSIGNMENT
1. Read Meditation 17. Answer questions B & C
posed on page 514; answer questions 1, 2, 3,
and second part of 6 p. 515.
2. Read Holy Sonnet 10 and write a poetry analysis
items 1-5. As well as answer questions 1 & 2 on
p. 513 and #9 on page 515.
*Be prepared to compare/contrast subject matter,
tone, style, techniques in the two selections.
DISCUSSION
 Discuss writing prompt and Meditation 17
answers to the questions.
 Identify the techniques/rhetorical devices
used in the piece.
John Donne-Writing Prompt
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tijW_Sr
Coxs
 Explain what you believe Donne’s opinion
of the song lyrics for “Boulevard of
Broken Dreams” would be and why.
RIDDLE
 Why did Frosty go to live in the middle of
the ocean?
 Because snow man is an island!!
 Claire Wilson, 2012
American Gods excerpt
 Pages 322-323
 Which stance do you personally hold, that
expressed by Donne or that expressed by
Gaiman? Explain.
DISCUSSION
 Discuss/Share Holy Sonnet 10 and
assignment
 Compare/contrast subject, theme, style,
and tone between Sonnet 10 and
Meditation 17
ASSIGNMENT
3. Read A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning
 Answer question A, 1 and 2 on page 512
 Answer questions 4-8 on page 515.
 Poetry analysis items 5 & 6 and your own
question creation (see item 7)
DISCUSSION
 A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning
 Significance of the title & its punctuation
 Discuss questions and poetry analysis