1. JOHN DONNE – THE FLEA -Dr. Lakshmi Muthukumar, Head, Dept. of English

2.  The metaphysical poets is a term coined by the poet and critic Samuel Johnson to describe a loose group of British poets of the 17th century, whose work was characterized by the inventive use of conceits and by speculation about topics such as love or religion.  Their style was characterized by wit and metaphysical conceits—far-fetched or unusual similes or metaphors.

3.  The Metaphysical conceit - The most heterogeneous ideas were yoked together by violence; nature and art were ransacked for illustrations, unlikely comparisons and allusions.  For example, lovers were compared to a compass, a human body on an operating table was compared to a map, a flea to a marriage bed and temple.  Scientific or geographical discoveries interested them.

4.  John Donne (1572–1631)  George Herbert(1593–1633)  Andrew Marvell (1621–1678)  Abraham Cowley (1618–1667)  Robert Southwell (1561–1595)  Richard Crashaw (1613–1649)  Thomas Traherne (1637 – 1674)  Henry Vaughan (1622–1695)

5.  Anne Bradstreet (1612–1672)  Thomas Carew (1595–1640)  George Chapman (1559–1634)  John Hall (1627–1656)  Edward Herbert (1583–1648)  Richard Leigh (1649-1728)  Katherine Philips (1632–1664)  Sir John Suckling (1609–1642)  Edward Taylor (1642–1729)

6. Mark but this flea, and mark in this, How little that which thou deniest me is; It sucked me first, and now sucks thee, And in this flea our two bloods mingled be; Thou know’st that this cannot be said A sin, nor shame, nor loss of maidenhead, Yet this enjoys before it woo, And pampered swells with one blood made of two, And this, alas, is more than we would do.

7. Oh stay, three lives in one flea spare, Where we almost, nay more than married are. This flea is you and I, and this Our marriage bed, and marriage temple is; Though parents grudge, and you, we are met, And cloistered in these living walls of jet. Though use make you apt to kill me, Let not to that, self-murder added be, And sacrilege, three sins in killing three.

8. Cruel and sudden, hast thou since Purpled thy nail, in blood of innocence? Wherein could this flea guilty be, Except in that drop which it sucked from thee? Yet thou triumph’st, and say'st that thou Find’st not thy self, nor me the weaker now ’Tis true; then learn how false, fears be: Just so much honor, when thou yield’st to me, Will waste, as this flea’s death took life from thee.