John Donne Metaphysical poetry Poetry characterized by intellectual

John Donne

Metaphysical poetry • Poetry characterized by intellectual displays and concern with metaphysical, or philosophical, issues. Incorporates the use of two devices (not exclusively) – Conceits – extended metaphors – often mixing abstract ideas and emotions – Paradoxes – images or descriptions that appear contradictory but actually give greater meaning

Two parts of his life • Young, wild, married, against the wishes of her uncle, one of the Queen’s high-ranking officials. He was imprisoned and wrote – John Donne Anne Donne Undone

Love Poetry • His lengthy marriage to Anne – after he was released from prison – produced 12 children, 7 of whom were still alive when Anne died in 1617 • The marriage also produced great love poems

Second part of life • After years of poverty – King James I in 1615 insisted Donne join the clergy • Royal Chaplain and then dean of St. Paul’s Cathedral • No longer writing sly and witty verse he became one of the most popular preachers of his day • Still working in the elements of metaphysical poetry into his sermons

Popularity • Very popular during his lifetime – had a dramatic flare and wrote passionately about the subjects – love and God • Waned in popularity after his death • TS Eliot helped to bring back a resurgence of interest in Donne’s work in the twentieth century • Donne faced and wrote about modern issues – contemporary audiences can relate to the issues and the style of poetry

Ben Jonson • Never liked Donne’s poetry for its use of irregular rhythm and rhyme and for its use of scientific and technological conceits and paradoxes

Ben Jonson • Historic accounts picture Jonson at the Mermaid Tavern surrounded by admirers and engaged in duels of with Shakespeare and other contemporaries. • Jonson emphasized graceful, balanced expression in verse, offering an alternative to what he called Donne’s “rough lines”

Dramatist • Jonson also wrote very popular plays – waned in popularity due to the use of satire – they do not translate across time well.

Ageless, classical virtues • • Clarity Unity Symmetry Proportion

Firsts • First to see poetry as an important vocation • Risked controversy by publishing his own plays in “Collected Works” a format previously reserved for theological or historical works • Claimed professional dignity

Epigrams • A short poem or saying in which the writer strives for brevity, clarity, and permanence • Epigrams contain – Short lines with bouncy rhythms – Paradoxical twists – Parallelism – parallel phrases or clauses

“On My First Son” • Written for Jonson’s son who died • In contrast to Holy Sonnet 10 by Donne which argues that death does not matter because it leads to eternal life – Jonson’s poem shows that death sorely wounds those grieving people left behind