History of English Literature

Metaphysical poetry

Without a doubt, metaphysical poetry is one of the most interesting branches that involve fierce stuffing of thoughts not giving the reader a moment to pause and think about. "Metaphysical" when applied to poetry usually involves Love, Science, Geology, Romance, Sensuality and man's relationship with God. Metaphysical poems are lyrical poems usually containing intense meditations, characterized by striking use of wit, irony, and play on words. This type of poetry does not denote any vague trend; but rather a number of special features, illustrated by such master- Donne, Marvell, Herbert, Crashaw, and Cowley. 

Metaphysical poems are lyric poems and are very intellectual. One of the main characteristics of metaphysical poetry is concentration. The metaphysical poet does not muse or debate upon a particular idea or point. He rather keeps his reader limited to an idea or a line of argument. He tends to be brief, and his poetry is always characterized by its closely concentrated ideas. 

The second characteristic element of metaphysical poets is found in their constant use of conceits.  A conceit invites an extra-ordinary comparison between the objects in which there is no more oddity than of likeness. This is like a flash that made by two completely unlike stones. Consequently, the pre-eminence of conceits has given intellectuality to metaphysical poetry. 

Intellectualism is considered another distinct feature of metaphysical poetry. The intellectual aspect of metaphysical poetry is evident not merely in the use of conceits but also in its deeply reflective notes and pointed wit, with occasional mildly satiric stokes. The metaphysical poets are reflective and they show more intellect and less emotion.

Lastly, the analytical habit, another characteristic, of the metaphysical poets is the very cause of their oddity in imagery, diction and versification. The imagery appears often extravagant and fanciful. They are found to employ only those words that strike the mind with thoughts. The very pattern of their rhythm is the pattern of thought, analytical, probing – which are the prominent elements in metaphysical poetry. 

John Donne is supposed as the founder and most successful poet in the Metaphysical School of poetry.  His chief metaphysical poems are- “The Good- Morrow”, “The Sun-Rising”, and “The Progress of the Soul” and so on.  “The Good Morrow”, is considered as a flawless metaphysical poem where he praises the spiritual relation. Here, in the first stanza, there is the regret for past doings, in the second stanza the pleasure of discovering something, and in the last stanza the hope of doing better; are portrayed by Donne. The abrupt beginning of the poem- the use of conceits form everyday life and myth in the first stanza, the geographical reference in stanza two, the use of scholastic philosophy in stanza three, and ultimately the emphasis of spiritual love-  make it one of those poems of Donne which combine intellect and emotion. 

Metaphysical poetry is a distinct from other poetic forms, with some confined features. Moreover, Knowledge and thinking, in no narrow sense are the necessity of metaphysical poetry.