Introduction: The word “meta” means “after”. Thus metaphysics deals
with the questions that can’t be explained by science. It questions the nature
of reality in a philosophical way. Metaphysics can cover a broad range of
topics from religious to consciousness. Metaphysics is about exploration &
philosophy, not about science & mathematics.
Description: Metaphysical poetry is
a distinct type of poetry that flourished in the 17th century
introduced by John Donne. Metaphysical
poetry is a revolt against the Elizabethan poetry of conventional form
and theme. By metaphysical poetry we mean that type of new school of poetry
which implies some salient characteristics of abrupt and striking
beginning, complexity, dramatic quality, blending of passion and
intellectuality, argument and wit, conceits and images, philosophic and reflective
tone, the use of colloquial language etc. we need
to analytical discussion of Donne’s major poems and
their characteristics in order to evaluate Donne as the precursor of
metaphysical poetry.
Abrupt and striking
beginning is an important aspect of metaphysical poetry. For example, we
can quote the opening line of “The Canonization”:
“For
God’s sake hold your tongue and let me love”.
Undoubtedly, all of Donne’s
poems have such kind of striking beginning that arrest our attention instantly.
Another important aspect of
metaphysical poetry is dramatic quality. In Donne’s poems have always a
dramatic development and atmosphere that attract the readers
and create dramatic suspension in their mind. For example
“Go and
catch a falling star
And swear
No where
Lives a
woman true and fair”.
The abundant use of
conceits and farfetched imagery is a fundamental trait of Donne’s
metaphysical poetry which
is a comparison between two dissimilar things. The most famous conceit is the
comparison of a man who travels and his beloved who
stays, to a pair of compasses in his poem “A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning”.
As stiff twin compasses are
two;
Thy soul, the fix’d foot,
makes no show
To move, but doth, if th’ other do
Wit is
the dominant feature of Donne’s metaphysical poetry. Donne’s
wit may be found in his use of puns, wordplay, oxymoron, paradox, etc.
For example in “The Good Morrow” his wit is seen:
If our
two loves be one, or thou and I
Love so
alike, that none doe slacken, none can die.”.
In Donne’s love poetry,
we find a peculiar blend of passion and thought, feeling and ratiocination.
Each of his love poems arises out of a particular emotion but he explains that
emotion with the help of his intellect.
Conclusion: To
conclude, we can say that Donne is metaphysical both in the
treatment of theme and technique. He is perfectly a metaphysical poet by virtue
of his learning and intellect, displaying an abundance of wit and
conceits and above all, his blend of passion and thought.
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