Metaphysical Poetry THE WRITINGS OF JOHN DONNE

What is Metaphysical Poetry?  Metaphysical poetry appeals primarily to the mind rather than to the emotions.  It speculates about philosophy.  These poems are  Concise – brief, tightly woven yet dense with meaning  Use “conceits” – an extended metaphor relating things that may, at first, seem unlikely to be related at all.

Who is John Donne?  John Donne is considered the most outstanding metaphysical poet.  He spent his youth pursing “the world”  After joining the church, he dedicated his writings to religious concepts  Wrote about love in both his early, youthful poems and his later, religious- based poems.

Let’s explore the concept of a “conceit”  “Conceit” is an elaborate and extended comparison. For example:  How is a sandwich like a book?  Food for stomach (sandwich) -- Food for thought (book)  Contents of a sandwich –- Contents of a book  A sandwich can be relished (slowly enjoyed) – A book can be relished (slowly enjoyed)

More Practice…  How is old age like winter?

More Practice …  How is life like a flower?

More Practice …  How is anger like a fire?

“A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning” As virtuous men pass mildly away, And whisper to their souls, to go, Whilst some of their sad friends do say, ‘The breath goes now,’ and some say, ‘No:’ So Let us melt, and make no noise, No tear-floods, no sight-tempests move; ‘Twere profanation of our joys To tell the laity of our love

“A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning” Moving of th’ earth brings harms and fears; Men reckon what it did, and meant; But trepidation of the spheres, Though greater far, is innocent. Dull sublunary lovers’ love (Whose soul is sense) cannot admit Absence, because it doth remove Those things which elemented it.

“A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning” But we by a love so much refin’d, That ourselves know not what it is, Inter-assured of the mind, Care less, eyes, lips, and hands to miss. Our two souls therefore, which are one, Though I must go, endure not yet A breach, but an expansion, Like gold to airy thinness beat.

“A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning” Is they be two, they are two so As stiff twin compasses are two; Thy soul, the fix’d foot, makes no show To move, but doth, if the other do. And though it in the centre sit, Yet when the other far doth roam, It leans, and hearkens after it, And grow erect, as that comes home.

“A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning” Such wilt though be to me, who must Like th’ other foot, obliquely run; Thy firmness makes my circle just, And makes me end, where I begun.