Metaphysical Poetry

Definition of Metaphysical Poetry

The word 'metaphysics' comes from the Greek word. Which is a combination of two words: 'meta' and 'physics' that literally mean "beyond nature'. Here the word nature refers to the nature of a thing, such as its cause and purpose.

Metaphysics studies questions of a thing beyond or above questions of its nature. Metaphysics deals with the questions which can not be explained by science. Metaphysical poetry is highly intelligent and witty. It is deeply religious as well as ironic also. One can find strange imagery and contain complicated thoughts in it.

Characteristic of Metaphysical Poetry

Metaphysical conceits

A remarkable feature of the metaphysical poetry is the use of metaphysical conceits It can be considered as a unique quality of metaphysical poetry. Here the conceit which means a comparison of two dissimilar things. Which may have very little in common. If we look at the example, in the poem "The Mistress" Abraham Cowley compares his love for laddies to his habit of traveling in various countries in the world.

Originality

The most important characteristic of Metaphysical poetry is its originality. All Metaphysical poets didn't follow the path of their contemporary but they all had their unique style and thoughts of writing poetry,

Platonic Love

Platonic love refers to spiritual love It is a hallmark of Metaphysical poetry. n Metaphysical poetry we find spiritual love which is free from elements of physical love.

Brief and Concise

Metaphysical poetry is considered to be brief and concise. n which every line of the poem conveys meaning in a few words. Every word is adjustable in every line and conveys the message of the author to us.

Well-known Metaphysical poets are ......

John Donne

Andrew Marvell

Henry Vaughan

Richard Crashaw

George Herbert

Katherine Philips

Abraham Cowley

Among all Metaphysical poets, John Donne is known as the founder of the Metaphysical poets. His works are noted for their strong and sensual style of writing. His poetry is noted for its vibrancy of language and inventiveness of metaphor.

"Death be not proud" is the 10th holy sonnet by John Donne. In the present sonnet, he tries to nullify the fear of death.

Here the poet starts talking about the death, whom he treats as a person. He tells death not to be proud because he is not as scary or powerful as people think. By mentioning this poet coveys us that death has no capacity to kill him. Then he tries to burn the death's biscuit by comparing him to 'rest and sleep'. The poet says that if he has to draw the picture of death he will draw the picture of a person enjoying rest and peace which means death gives us rest and peace to us. Best people have to go with death that's why the poet says not to be afraid of death. As per the poet's point of view, there are three dwelling places of death. They are poison, war, and sickness. The poet also says that a mother's charm causes sleep to us in a better way than the way death caused by a single stroke. In this way, the poet says that not a need for death to be proud. If death is accepted in this manner than death itself would die.

The Pulley by George Herbert

The Pulley by George Herbert is a religious metaphysical poem which centers on the 'Pulley' as a prime conceit in the poem.This poem talks about the relationship that exist between God and man.In the starting of the poem God.In this poem God makes us understand that God sees human as a being that is subjective to change and they follow the wrong course by loving the nature things which is created by God rather than to love God himself.God makes himself superior to man by seizing rest out of man's life.It simply means that God removes all the contexts like barreness,lack of money and many others which prevents man to come to him.The important idea of this poem is that without christ there is no life.