METAPHYSICAL POETRY 1

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THARINDRA ABEYNAYAKE SSH/2011/2012/005 SH/2655 METAPHYSICAL POETRY

Transcript of METAPHYSICAL POETRY 1

THARINDRA ABEYNAYAKE

SSH/2011/2012/005

SH/2655

METAPHYSICAL POETRY

“Metaphysical poetry, in the full sense of the term, is a poetry which has been inspired by a philosophical conception of the universe and the role assigned to the human spirit in the great drama of existence.”

- Grierson

Poetry dating from the 17th century in Britain that has an abstract and ethereal style.

The term was 1st coined by John Dryden in 1693 when he described a poem by John Donne as affecting “the metaphysical.”

Later popularized by Samuel Johnson(1709-1784) in 1781.

‘meta’ = after‘metaphysical’ = after the physical

Metaphysics deal with questions that can’t be explained by science.

Questions the nature of reality in a philosophical way.

E.g.: -Does God exist?

-What is the difference between reality and perception?

-Is everything that happens already predetermined? If so, then is free choice non-existent?

-Is consciousness limited to the brain?Cover a broad range of topics from religious to

consciousness.Metaphysics is about exploration and philosophy,

not about science and math.The metaphysical poets were men of learning.

CENTRAL FIGURES OF METAPHYSICAL POETRY…

Andrew Marvell

George Herbert

Henry Vaughan Richar

d Crashaw

John

Donne

John Donne…

Donne (1572 – 1631) was the most influential metaphysical poet. His personal relationship with spirituality is at the center of most of his work, and the psychological analysis and sexual realism of his work marked a dramatic departure from traditional, genteel verse.

CHARACTERISTICS… Concentration

Metaphysical

Conceit

Reliance On

Intellectual Wit

Subtle Argument

Cynicism

Learnedness

Mechanism of

Sensibility

Abrupt Opening

Metrical Harshness

Dramatic Effect

Learned Imagery

Comparisons

THEMES

Religious Sentiment Humanity of Life

Softness of Love

Sexual Realism

New Philosophy

Politics

Humour

With no specific negative points except for the

concentration of thought,

metaphysical poetry has

proved to be an all rounder still

challenging every reader at

first sight.

Thank you…