1. Metaphysical, Cavalier, and Puritan Poetry

2. Metaphysical Poetry
Metaphysical = after or following the physical; a branch of philosophy that seeks to know what is truly “real”
Characteristics:
Use of argument: appeals to intellect and emotions
Use of comparison: metaphysical conceit (extended metaphor that compares 2 very unlike things)
Use of language: plain style

3. John Donne
B. 1572; Roman Catholic at a time when England was anti-Catholic
“Conceited verses” written in younger years (“The Flea”)
Poor (lost his government position due to scandal); became very depressed

4. John Donne
Friends urged him to enter the ministry because of the power of his religious poems
Became a minister at 43; soon became chaplain to King James I
By the time he died (1631), was considered the greatest preacher in England

5. “A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning”
Valediction = farewell statement
Written for his wife just before he left for France; purpose was to ease his wife’s fears of a premonition she had about his trip
Metaphysical conceit = lovers to the feet of a compass

6. “Death Be Not Proud” Written soon after his wife’s death
Donne’s thoughts on immortality and religious faith
Personification

7. “Meditation 17” At age 51, Donne became seriously ill
Wrote “Meditation 17” as he was recovering
Meditation = short sermon; expresses his thoughts on his illness and experience
Bells = signal death; villagers knew to pray for the soul of the dead/dying
Extended metaphysical conceit

8. Ben Jonson Large man; fiery temper
Self-taught (no money for formal education); apprenticed with a bricklayer, entered army
Began acting/writing in early 20s
First big success at age 26 (play that featured Shakespeare in a leading role)

9. Ben Jonson Killed a fellow actor in a duel and was sentenced to death
Because he could read Latin, was allowed to be tried in church court
Church court overturned death sentence; branded on the thumb as a convicted felon
Resented comparisons to Shakespeare (Jonson was more respected at the time)
Age 49—King James I gave him a lifetime pension (he’d always be able to write)
Took a year off, but when he returned, his writing had gone out of style; spent the last 20 years of his life trying to regain his former status

10. “On My First Son” / “Song: To Celia”
Elegy = poem expressing mourning
Son, Benjamin, died of the plague in 1603, on his 7th birthday
“Benjamin” (Hebrew) = “Child of my right hand”
Unrequited love
Ambrosia = drink of the gods (immortality)

11. Cavalier Poetry Writers affiliated with King Charles I’s court
Characteristics:
Carpe diem = “seize the day”
Intended to entertain audience rather than instruct it
Conversational style
Popular themes were love and loyalty
Could be serious or sarcastic

12. Robert Herrick Anglican priest
Needed money; took a ministerial job in a quiet country parish far from London
Was miserable and lonely, so he turned to poetry
Wrote poems to his pet pig, cat, dog, maid, neighbors, and imaginary girlfriends
After many years and 1200 poems, returned to London; wasn’t able to publish his poetry
London had changed; took his old parish job back 10 years later
“To the Virgins, Make Much of Time”

13. Andrew Marvell Brilliant writer of lyric poetry and prose
Always managed to land on his feet, no matter what political upheavals took place (good connections)

14. “To His Coy Mistress” “Coy” = flirty but shy
“Mistress” = ma’am, miss; sometimes sweetheart
Published after his death; his maid had it published, and in the introduction she described him as her husband (secret marriage)
Few believed this, never proven

15. The Puritans
Wanted to “purify” the Church of England by eliminating Roman Catholic traditions
Puritans = Protestants
Protestants rejected belief in the Pope
Didn’t like the “top-to-bottom” hierarchy of the RC church; wanted “bottom-to-top”
Elizabeth I, James I tolerated Puritans; Charles I wanted to bring back RC traditions, so some Puritans left for America

16. The Puritans Puritans who stayed in England gained political power
1649—King Charles I found guilty of treason; beheaded
Commonwealth (new government) headed by Oliver Cromwell
Tried to make English society conform to their strict Puritan beliefs (no holiday celebrations, no dancing, no playing chess, no public theaters)
Commonwealth was unpopular; in 1660, monarchy was restored (Charles II)

17. John Bunyan Grew up in poverty
Only received a very basic education; left school at an early age to work
Grew up to be one of England’s best-known nonconformist preachers
Arrested for preaching without a license at the age of 32

18. John Bunyan Refused to renounce his faith; spent 12 years in prison
Pardoned at the age of 42
Arrested again 4 years later and imprisoned again for his beliefs

19. The Pilgrim’s Progress
allegory—work in which characters and settings are symbols aimed at teaching a moral lesson
Character names indicate the quality they represent
Main character is named Christian; on a journey to the Celestial City
Christian meets Faithful, who joins him on the journey.
Together, they stop at the town of Vanity.

20. John Milton Declared at age 21 he’d be a “great poet”
At 30 he traveled to Europe to study; religious/political upheavals called him home
Gave up all other writing to create pamphlets in defense of religious and civil freedoms
Neglected poetry for 20 years (held govt positions)
Went blind at age 44

21. John Milton
In 1660 (end of Commonwealth), had time to devote to writing (was 52)
Charles II had him arrested as a traitor; friends in high places saved him from hanging, but he had to pay heavy fines that left him broke
Dictated Paradise Lost to his daughters

22. Paradise Lost
Epic poem = long narrative poem that tells, in a serious tone and stately language, heroic exploits and dramatic events
Begins with an invocation of the Muse and a statement of purpose
10,565 lines long
Blank verse (unrhymed iambic pentameter)

23. Paradise Lost Depicts the fall of Adam and Eve
Satan (as a snake) tempts Adam and Eve to commit original sin (eating the forbidden fruit from the Tree of Knowledge)
Also gives background: a description of Hell at the time Satan and other rebellious angels were first driven from Heaven
Paradise Regained, his next epic poem, depicts Christ’s temptation