¶ … Natural Sciences and Geometry in Metaphysical Poetry
Love in metaphysical poetry: Donne and Marvell
"Metaphysical texts, primarily characterized through the conflation of traditional form with seditious linguistic techniques such as satire, irony, wit, parody and rhetoric, generate a microcosmic emphasis in many of the texts" even while the authors ultimately address 'macro' concerns of religion and man's place in the universe (Uddin 45). In poems such as John Donne's "The Flea" and "A Valediction Forbidding Mourning" and Andrew Marvell's "The Definition of Love," subjects such as the poet's adoration for his beloved take on a much higher significance than the personal sphere within the context of the poem. Metaphysical poetry embodies what is often considered a paradox: it is, on one hand, intensely emotional, but it is also, on the other hand, quite explicit in its suggestion of universality. "Introspection, being 'a careful examination of one's own thoughts, impressions and feelings' allowed the poet to create a certain atmosphere in a text that acknowledges the acceptance of orderly systems of thought and feeling, resulting in a direct and often austere manner of speech. A strong emphasis on the contemplation of death, and a considerable interest in the soul, both in a religious and philosophical domain, allowed the Metaphysical Poets the use of the individual voice" (Uddin 45). Metaphysical poetry like that of Donne and Marvell, even when dealing with the emotive subject of love, only uses the particular to understand the universal, and is not interested in self-examination in an individualistic modern sense.
For example, in John Donne's...
Creation Myth Analysis Case Study of the History of Biblical Creation Narratives What Is Myth? What Is History? Manetho Josephus Jeroboam Is Genesis 1:1-2:4 Myth? Is Genesis 1:1-2:4 History? Is Genesis 1:1-2:4 Both Myth and History? An Analysis of the Biblical Creation Narrative of Genesis 1:1-25 and Egypt's Possible Influence on the Historical Record God created the world in just six days, and rested on the seventh, but scholars have not rested at all over the millennia in their investigation of
Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.
Get Started Now