Metaphysical Poetry Rebecca AP English 2/8/11

Metaphysics  It is hard to explain what metaphysics really is and it has different meanings  It is a branch of philosophy  Metaphysics was first referred to much of Aristotle’s writings  In simple terms, metaphysics deals with the fundamental nature of reality in that it finds what something must be like in order to be existent at all.  Metaphysicians are idealists that discover what underlies everything in the world.  Materialists and naturalists are said to have some of the same views as metaphysicians.

Metaphysical poetry  Metaphysical means above physical level  Metaphysical poetry is based on an abstract and difficult style of writing which uses conceits along with wide uses of similes and metaphors.  Other ways to recognize metaphysical poetry is if the poem is a paradox and uses direct language  A lot of metaphysical poetry use philosophical ideas and much analysis  Other elements include Juxtaposition, Irony, and Allusions  Most Metaphysical poetry deals with big issues such as love, death, money, life and god.

Metaphysical poets  were a group of 17 th century British poets  They were influenced by the changing times going on in the world and new sciences that were developing.  Each used the same elements of Metaphysical poetry but often had their own views on different ideas  One of the most famous Metaphysical poets is John Donne  Other included George Herbert, Henry Vaughan, Edward Herbert, Thomas Carcw, Richard Crashaw, Andrew Marvell, Richard Lovelace, and Sir John Suckling

John Donne  born in London in 1572  First studied law to have a legal and diplomatic career  He was a private secretary and also a lawyer.  He had a secret marriage to Anne Moore  He later became a priest for the Anglican church where he delivered inspiring sermons  His poetry consisted of subjects on many spiritual and religious views  He wrote many poems including A Valediction Forbidding Mourning, and The Flea which we read last semester

The Paradox By: John Donne  NO lover saith, I love, nor any other Can judge a perfect lover ; He thinks that else none can or will agree, That any loves but he ; I cannot say I loved, for who can say He was kill'd yesterday. Love with excess of heat, more young than old, Death kills with too much cold ; We die but once, and who loved last did die, He that saith, twice, doth lie ; For though he seem to move, and stir a while, It doth the sense beguile. Such life is like the light which bideth yet When the life's light is set, Or like the heat which fire in solid matter Leaves behind, two hours after. Once I loved and died ; and am now become Mine epitaph and tomb ; Here dead men speak their last, and so do I ; Love-slain, lo ! here I die.

Translation  No lover says that they love, and no one can find/be a perfect lover. Whoever thinks he is thinks that he is the only one who loves. I can't say that I've loved because it's impossible to say anything if you were killed yesterday. Death kills love's heat with cold. (This could be the other way around, though) We can only die once, so whoever has loved is dead. If anyone says that he can love twice, he lies. For, the one (who has loved) and seems to be alive is only a trick on our senses. The life that he seems to have is only the afterglow of his life, Like the heat that is left by a fire two hours after it's burned out. I once loved and died and have become my own epitaph and tomb. I have been slain by love! Here, I die!  ysis.php ysis.php

Elements of the movement/period  The title is a give away that this poem is a paradox which is an element often used in metaphysical poetry.  Simile's and metaphors are used widely throughout the poem.  Ex: Such life is like the light which bideth yet  This Poem is a conceit in that it uses the word Love to explain death through out much of the poem  Many lines in this poem have multiple meanings  Ex: Love slain, lo, here I lie  Along with this poem and most of Donne’s poem, death seems to always come up which shows that he has strong feelings about it that are not good  This poem is ultimately saying that love leads to death  “death” may very be a connotation for something sexual

Elements of Style  Ambiguity, which is a word or phrase that has a double meaning, causing multiple interpretations is used throughout the poem  Ex: the word death may actually mean death to some but also might mean something sexual to others due to the time period.  Donne uses connotation throughout the poem to show that some of the words like “death” having double meanings. This makes the reader think deeper than what is just in front of them.  This poem also shows expressionism in that John Donne has his own believe about love and death that is not necessarily like others but it is something that he strongly believes in.

Language  A lot of the lines uses connotative language, meaning that most of the words in the poem have different meanings.  The language is also poetic in that it is a poem with rhyme. The rhyme scheme is: AABBCCDDEE… and so forth.  This poem is also Obscure in that it is hard to understand what the point is and the ideas in this poem might seem strange to some  This poem is euphemistic because it is substituting love for death which can be disturbing to most.

Sources Used   n-donne n-donne  y/metaphys.htm y/metaphys.htm  ysics/ ysics/ 