METAPHYSICAL POETRY Dasha Baker | | Adrian Salazar Glen Paul Florendo | THE MOVEMENT 17th Century • Metaphysical – ‘transcend above or beyond the physical or concrete,’ representing the nonmaterial and supernatural • The metaphysical poetry movement sought greater depth in its verse. • The metaphysical poets defined and compared their subjects through nature, philosophy, love, and musings about the hereafter. They aimed to minimize their place within the poem so they may to look beyond the obvious. POETIC THEMES • Experience of man • • • • • Life Love & Romance Sensual Desires Man’s relationship with God Etc. POETIC TECHNIQUES • Lyric poems — any short poem that expresses thoughts and feelings • Wit — elements designed to make audience laugh or feel amused • In metaphysical poetry, wit denotes intelligence and originality, using paradoxes to make clever and concise expressions • Irony — actual meaning is expressed in words that carry the opposite meaning • Pun — a play on words that are identical in sound but have different meanings POETIC TECHNIQUES • Allusion — A reference/representation to people, places, events, literary works, works of art, or myths • Conceits — An extended metaphor with complex logic, expressed through an analogy to show similarity between two very dissimilar things • Imagery — images induced by words • Rhyme — close similarity of sound between syllables in corresponding lines • Meter — the repetition of regular rhythmic unit in a line of poetry (each unit of meter is known as a foot) GEORGE HERBERT Notable Works: “Easter Wings” “The Collar” “Jordan (I)” “Love (III)” “The Windows” • John Donne, the father of metaphysical poetry, dedicated his Holy Sonnets to George’s mother after his father’s death. • Sent his first two sonnets to his mother in 1610 • Prefers the subject of God instead of the love of a woman • His first verses were published in 1612, which were in Latin and on the subject of the death of Prince Henry • Herbert’s mother died in 1627 and Donne delivered her funeral sermon GEORGE HERBERT Notable Works: “Easter Wings” “The Collar” “Jordan (I)” “Love (III)” “The Windows” • Herbert took holy orders in the Church of England in 1630 and spent the rest of his life as a rector in Bremerton • Known as the “Holy Mr. Herbert” around the countryside • Poems are characterized by precision of language, a metrical versatility, and ingenious use of imagery • Poems celebrate the ways of God’s love as Herbert discovered them within the fluctuations of his own experience 1 5 10 15 20 Lord, who createdst man in wealth and store, Though foolishly he lost the same, Decaying more and more, Till he became Most poore: With thee O let me rise As larks, harmoniously, And sing this day thy victories: Then shall the fall further the flight in me. My tender age in sorrow did beginner And still with sicknesses and shame. Thou didst so punish sinne, That I became Most thinne. With thee Let me combine, And feel thy victorie: For, if I imp my wing on thine, Affliction shall advance the flight in me. EASTER WINGS George Herbert JOHN DONNE Notable Works: “A Valediction Forbidding Mourning” “The Sun Rising” “Death Be Not Proud” “Woman’s Constancy” “Love’s Alchemy” • Born to a prosperous Roman Catholic family (precarious during the time of Anti-Catholic sentiment in England) • Father died when he was four, leaving him and his two other siblings to be raised by their mother • His uncle headed an underground Jesuit mission in England, was caught, imprisoned, then exiled. • Brother Henry died of a fever in prison for being arrested for giving sanctuary to a proscribed Catholic priest (questions faith). • Converts to Anglicanism JOHN DONNE Notable Works: “A Valediction Forbidding Mourning” “The Sun Rising” “Death Be Not Proud” “Woman’s Constancy” “Love’s Alchemy” • Married Ann More, the daughter of Sir George More, killing his career • Took holy order to the Church of England • Wife died of childbirth • His intent was not for publication, but wrote poems to show to friends who would understand his references. • Known as the first and greatest of metaphysical poets 1 Death, be not proud, though some have called thee Mighty and dreadful, for thou art not so; For those whom thou think'st thou dost overthrow Die not, poor Death, nor yet canst thou kill me. 5 From rest and sleep, which but thy pictures be, Much pleasure; then from thee much more must flow, And soonest our best men with thee do go, Rest of their bones, and soul's delivery. Thou art slave to fate, chance, kings, and desperate men, 10 And dost with poison, war, and sickness dwell, And poppy or charms can make us sleep as well And better than thy stroke; why swell'st thou then? One short sleep past, we wake eternally And death shall be no more; Death, thou shalt die. DEATH, BE NOT PROUD John Donne WRITING PROMPTS I. Carefully read “Death Be Not Proud” by John Donne. Then, in well-organized essay, analyze how the speaker uses syntax, figurative language, and diction to reveal his attitude about death. II. Carefully read “Easter Wings” by George Herbert. Considering such literary elements such as diction, imagery, stanza structure, etc., write a wellorganized essay that examines the poem’s view of religion. QUIZ QUIZ 1) In plain English, the title “Valediction: Forbidding Mourning” means— a. a graduation speech commending the senior class b. a greeting to a person who had been thought missing c. a vow never to fall in love again d. a farewell urging the listener not to be sad QUIZ 1) In plain English, the title “Valediction: Forbidding Mourning” means— a. a graduation speech commending the senior class b. a greeting to a person who had been thought missing c. a vow never to fall in love again d. a farewell urging the listener not to be sad QUIZ 2) The scene described in the first stanza is— a. a childbirth b. a wedding c. a birthday d. a deathbed QUIZ 2) The scene described in the first stanza is— a. a childbirth b. a wedding c. a birthday d. a deathbed QUIZ 3) Lines 7–8, “’Twere profanation of our joys / To tell the laity our love,” mean— a. our love is profane but confessing it would absolve us b. we are the only happy people in a society of miserable souls c. our love is so sacred that we should not speak of it to others d. mere physical love is very different from true spiritual love QUIZ 3) Lines 7–8, “’Twere profanation of our joys / To tell the laity our love,” mean— a. our love is profane but confessing it would absolve us b. we are the only happy people in a society of miserable souls c. our love is so sacred that we should not speak of it to others d. mere physical love is very different from true spiritual love QUIZ 4) What phrase does the speaker use to describe the opposite of his and his wife’s love? a. “Dull sublunary lovers’ love . . .” b. “a love, so much refined . . .” c. “Our two souls therefore, which are one . . .” d. “Care less eyes, lips, and hands to miss.” QUIZ 4) What phrase does the speaker use to describe the opposite of his and his wife’s love? a. “Dull sublunary lovers’ love . . .” b. “a love, so much refined . . .” c. “Our two souls therefore, which are one . . .” d. “Care less eyes, lips, and hands to miss.” QUIZ 5) In a simile in line 24, the lovers’ souls are said to resemble gold in that they— a. are rare and precious b. are the envy of the world c. are beautiful d. can be drawn thin without being broken QUIZ 5) In a simile in line 24, the lovers’ souls are said to resemble gold in that they— a. are rare and precious b. are the envy of the world c. are beautiful d. can be drawn thin without being broken QUIZ 6) According to the speaker, absence from a lover is easiest to bear when the— a. couple have not known each other very long b. attraction is only on the surface c. two people are extremely close d. pair have been separated for a long time QUIZ 6) According to the speaker, absence from a lover is easiest to bear when the— a. couple have not known each other very long b. attraction is only on the surface c. two people are extremely close d. pair have been separated for a long time QUIZ 7) The device that the speaker compares his and his wife’s love to is for— a. finding true north b. drawing circles c. measuring angles d. measuring distances QUIZ 7) The device that the speaker compares his and his wife’s love to is for— a. finding true north b. drawing circles c. measuring angles d. measuring distances QUIZ 8) In line 27, “Thy soul, the fixed foot” means that the— a. speaker is the moving needle on the compass b. speaker’s wife has had successful surgery on her foot c. speaker’s wife likes to make puns about the words soul and sole d. speaker’s wife is the prong of the compass that remains still in the center QUIZ 8) In line 27, “Thy soul, the fixed foot” means that the— a. speaker is the moving needle on the compass b. speaker’s wife has had successful surgery on her foot c. speaker’s wife likes to make puns about the words soul and sole d. speaker’s wife is the prong of the compass that remains still in the center QUIZ 9) In the poem, the speaker tells his loved one that a public display of emotion will a. serve as a model for others b. heighten their mutual regard c. diminish a spiritual relationship d. make onlookers envious of their relationship QUIZ 9) In the poem, the speaker tells his loved one that a public display of emotion will a. serve as a model for others b. heighten their mutual regard c. diminish a spiritual relationship d. make onlookers envious of their relationship QUIZ 10) The compass conceit in “A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning” can be seen in lines— a. 1–8 b. 13–16 c. 21–24 d. 25–36 QUIZ 10) The compass conceit in “A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning” can be seen in lines— a. 1–8 b. 13–16 c. 21–24 d. 25–36 Resources http://www.poetryfoundation.org http://www.luminarium.org http://www.poets.org