John Donne - 1376 Words

John Donne is the name in English Literature who gave new direction to the literary activities of his age. He is in a sense founded the metaphysical lyric, which was practiced by scare of writers. As Dowden says, â€Å"We are told that in the decline of the greater poetry of the Elizabethan period, a metaphysical school arose and that John Donne was the founder or the first eminent member of this school.† John Donne set up a new tradition in versification by and large Donne must be regarded as an original poet, â€Å"a poet who gave much more than what he borrowed from his age.† The word â€Å"metaphysical† has been defined by various writers differently. The learned critics feels that â€Å"metaphysical poetry† is inspired by a philosophy,†¦show more content†¦Then comes a conceit which also expresses the passion of the lovers: SHE’S ALL STATES, AND ALL PRINCES I; NOTHING ELSE IS. The most striking and famous one is the comparison of man who travels and his beloved who stays at home to a pair of compasses in ‘A Valediction Of Forbidding Mourning’. Here soul of the beloved is like the fixed foot of compasses as by her inborn nature she stays at home whereas the soul of the lover is like the other foot of compasses which moves beyond the center to complete a circle of journey. IF THEY BE TWO, THEY ARE TWO SO AS STIFF TWIN COMPASSES ARE TWO, THY SOUL THE FIX FOOT, MAKES NO SHOW TO MOVE, BUT (DOTH) IF THE OTHER DOE. In The Relique, John Donne imagines himself lying in a grave as a skeleton with the undeniable token of spiritual love in the sphere of his beloved’s bright lock of hair forming a bracelet about his wriste borne and because of their great love, he and his beloved will be honored like saints, ALL WOMEN SHALL ADORE US, AND SOME MEN. Another feature is the use of colloquial speech which marks the metaphysical poetry. In John Donne’s poems, the vigor of colloquialism is especially apparent in the abrupt, conversational opening of many of his poems. He selected colloquial diction which has vigor, freshness and originality. He discarded literary words and phrases which became rusty because of repetition. Another characteristic of metaphysical poetryShow MoreRelatedEssay on John Donne1928 Words   |  8 PagesJohn Donne John Donne had a rich life full of travel, women and religion. Donne was born in 1572 on Bread Street in London. The family was Roman Catholic which was dangerous during this time when Catholicism was being abolished and protestant was taking over. Donne’s farther was an iron monger who died in 1576. At 11 Donne and his younger brother went to university and studied there for three years then he went to Cambridge for a further three years. He left without any degrees becauseRead More Biography of John Donne Essay3729 Words   |  15 PagesBiography of John Donne John Donne was an English poet and probably the greatest metaphysical poets of all time. He was born in 1572 to a Roman Catholic family in London. His father died when John was young leaving his mother Elisabeth to raise him and his siblings. Throughout Donne’s life his experiences with religion were full of trials and tribulations, something that can be clearly seen in his poetry over time. He remained Catholic early in life while he attended both Oxford and CambridgeRead MoreJohn Donne Poetry Analysis2693 Words   |  11 PagesJohn Donne Poetry Essay The metaphysical poets were segregated in the seventeenth century to form a new and distinct style of poetry that employed immaculate wit, complex metaphors and luminous imagery. John Donne’s poetry is no exception to the form and thematic volume of the metaphysicals. Donne explores ideas in a manner which some readers find confronting and enlightening through relentless use of metaphysical conceits and his direct address to an individual or god. Donne confronts and enlightensRead MoreMetaphysical Poetry By John Donne1590 Words   |  7 Pagesgot involved in metaphysical poetry like: Samuel Johnson who wrote his book which is known as ‘’Lives of the Most Eminent English Poets’’, Henry Vaughan, Andrew Marvel, Richard Crashaw, George Herbert and finally who was the main founder, John Donne. John Donne (1572 - 1631), the founder of the Metaphysical school of poetry, lived and wrote during the succeeding reigns of Elizabeth I, James 1 and Charles I. His early life was passed in dissipation and roguery, much occupied with secret love-makingRead MoreMetaphysical Poetry of John Donne1441 Words   |  6 PagesKirsten Furnish AP Literature Mrs. Hendricks November 1, 2012 Literary Analysis of John Donne This examination of John Donne’s metaphysical poetry includes analysis of Donne’s use of topic, structure, scansion, style and theme. John Donne is known as one of the best writers of metaphysical poetry, a genre of poetry that is characterized specifically by themes of knowledge, intellect, and having a somewhat unrecognizable meter or rhyme. Metaphysical poetry forsakes pure and genial nature of otherRead MoreJohn Donne And George Herbert942 Words   |  4 PagesJohn Donne and George Herbert are two metaphysical poets that lived in the United Kingdom around the 17th century. Although they are almost a generation apart in age, both poets showcase an unbelievable amount of comparison in their poems. Each of these poets has written about their life experiences from troubling times to love and compassion. Though they share similar backgrounds, each poet has a unique style that shows a great amount of symbolism, irony and spirituality. The poems EasterRead MoreSonnet 116 And John Donne1059 Words   |  5 Pages William Shakespeare’s â€Å"Sonnet 116† and John Donne’s â€Å"A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning† similarly explore the theme of everlasting true love. However, both poems differ in rhyme scheme, techniques, and meaning. The poets use these tools to convey to the reader that everlasting true love does in fact exist. Although both speak so passionately about said love, only the speaker of Donne’s poem has actually experienced it. While both poems explicate eternal true love, their rhyme scheme differencesRead MoreDeath Be Not Proud By John Donne1329 Words   |  6 Pagesthe insignificance of death as a state in Donne’s time. However, this value does not transcend to our modern existential contexts, as epitomised in W;t, where death, seen as a terrifying fate, is the end of everything. Through irony and wit, we see Donne finally dismissed death, â€Å"Death, thou shalt die.† Consequently, we see how, through Donne’s context, the perennial issue of death is ridiculed and disempowered. In contrast to Donne’s poetry we see how the transition through time of sociologicalRead MoreDeath Is Inevitable By John Donne Essay1560 Words   |  7 PagesMeditations XVII by John Donne, the speaker talks about how everyone has a path in life and God is the one that decides who dies and who doesn t. By many, death is seen with fear, anger, denial, and grieve. In the poem, I Felt a Funeral in My Brain by Emily Dickinson, the speaker appears to be losing her mind and uses funeral as a metaphor; a representation of the speaker s emotions dying. For me, death is a way for a person to start a new chapter. Perhaps even a better â€Å"life†. John Donne was an EnglishRead MoreJohn Donne s A Fever1270 Words   |  6 Pagesmetaphysical poet, John Donne is known for use of strange paradoxical imagery, complicated thought, and questioning the nature of the reader’s reality. In the sonnet, â€Å"A Fever,† Donne explores an unusual and complex love that he has for a woman. Throughout this poem Donne makes use of the contrasting themes of love and hate. While some might this consider this unusually, Donne’s use of the contrasting themes of love and hate show that the love a woman can give purpose to a man’s existence. Donne begins his