Early Modern Period 2
17th century:
Metaphysical Poetry
Puritan Poetry
METAPHYSICAL POETRY
Metaphysical Poetry (17th c.)
John Dryden cri=cizing John Donne:
“He affects the metaphysics, not only in his
sa=res, but in his amorous verses, where
nature only should reign; and perplexes the
minds of the fair sex with nice specula<ons of
philosophy, when he should engage their
hearts, and entertain them with the
soJnesses of love.”
“Discourse concerning the original and progress
of sa=re” (1693)
Samuel Johnson:
“To show their learning was their whole endeavour …
The most heterogeneous ideas are yoked by violence
together; nature and art are ransacked for
illustra=ons, comparisons, and allusions; their
learning instructs, and their subtlety surprises; but
the reader commonly thinks his improvement dearly
bought, and, though he some=mes admires, is
seldom pleased.”
“Life of Cowley” (1779)
Metaphysical poets
John Donne, Ben Johnson, George Herbert,
Henry Vaughan, Andrew Marvell, Robert
Herrick, Richard Crashaw
Thomas Carew, Sir John Suckling, Richard
Lovelace, John Cleveland, Abraham Cowley
Metaphysical poetry
• “Meta -” aJer, beyond
• Break with Renaissance conven=ons
• Poetry: intellectual rather than emo=onal
• Both frivolous (sensual and sexual) and serious (concerned
with religion, learning, philosophical ques=ons)
• Wit
• Paradox, pun, an=thesis, startling contrast
• Carpe Diem, Memento mori
• Conceit – extended metaphor – juxtaposi=on or
comparison of two dissimilar things
• Petrarchan vs. Metaphysical conceit
• Shakespeare’s “Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day
(Sonnet XVIII)” vs. Donne’s “The Flea”
John Donne
No man is an Island, en=re of
itself; every man is a piece of
the Con$nent, a part of the
maine; if a Clod be washed
away by the Sea, Europe is the
lessee, as well as if a
Promontorie were, as well as if
a Manner of thy friends or of
thine owne were; any man's
death diminishes me, because
I am involved in Mankind; And
therefore never send to know
for whom the bell tolls; It tolls
for thee.
Devo$ons Upon Emergent
Occasions (1624)
Robert Herrick
I sing of brooks, of blossoms, birds, and
bowers,
Of April, May, of June, and July flowers.
I sing of May-poles, hock-carts, wassails,
wakes,
Of bridegrooms, brides, and of their
bridal-cakes.
I write of youth, of love, and have access
By these to sing of cleanly wantonness.
I sing of dews, of rains, and piece by
piece
Of balm, of oil, of spice, and ambergris.
I sing of Time's trans-shiJing; and I write
How roses first came red, and lilies
white.
I write of groves, of twilights, and I sing
The court of Mab, and of the fairy king.
I write of Hell; I sing (and ever shall)
Of Heaven, and hope to have it aJer all.
“The Argument of His Book” (1648)
Andrew Marvell
The grave's a fine
and private place,
But none, I think, do
there embrace
“To His Coy
Mistress” (1649–60)
George Herbert
“If a donkey bray at
you, don't bray at him”
“Some=mes the best
gain is to lose”
“Love and a cough
cannot be hid.”
PURITAN PERIOD
Puritan age: Historical Background
• Royalists (Cavaliers) – divine right of kings
• Puritans (Roundheads) – parliament and
people
• Civil War
• Execu=on of Charles I
• Commonwealth: Oliver Cromwell
• 1660: Restora=on of the monarchy
Puritans
• “purity” of religion
• God’s supreme authority over human affairs
(God of the Old Testament)
• The Bible as the standard
• Roles of men and women: original sin worse in
woman than in man – Eve’s corrup=on on all
women
• Humble life, no entertainment: except for
religious poetry and music (regulated)
Puritans
• No decora=ons, candles, pictures in the
Church – considered as idolatry
• Placed importance in educa=on
• Separa=on of Church and State in England
• Providence, free will and predes=na=on
John Milton
• Spoke Greek, La=n, Hebrew, several modern
European languages
• Three periods of wri=ng:
1. Studies
2. Civil War and Interregnum
3. Restora=on of Monarchy
John Milton
• 1. Occasional verses
L’Allegro
Il Penseroso
Lycidas
2. Mostly Poli=cal Pamphlets – startlingly modern
ideas on contemporary issues – advoca=ng
divorce
3. Paradise Lost
Paradise Regained
Samson Agonistes
Paradise Lost
• Blank verse
• Epic
• 10, later 12 books
• Ul=mate op=mism
• Purpose: “to jus=fy the ways of God to men”
Elements of Epic
• Long narra=ve poem in verse
• Hero of great importance
• Exaggera=on – hyperbole
• Supernatural elements
• Moral lesson
• Theme – universal significance, humanity
• Invoca=on of the muse
• High style
• Epic simile – far-fetched comparisons
Restora=on period (1660)
• Strong reac=on against Puritanism
• Emergence of the ideas of neo-classicism
• To be con=nued
Sources and further reading
• hmps://www.bl.uk/shakespeare/ar=cles/john-
donne-and-metaphysical-poetry#
• hmps://www.bl.uk/people/john-milton
• hmps://academic.brooklyn.cuny.edu/english/
melani/novel_18c/defoe/puritanism.html
