METAPHYSICAL POETRY. DRAMATIC MANNER AND DIRECT TONE OF SPEECH .here are some slides.

2. Metaphysical poetry;

3. Characteristics of metaphysical poetry;
DRAMATIC MANNER AND DIRECT TONE OF
SPEECH;
 One of the main characteristics of metaphysical poetry
 Poetry was written in a colloquial manner
 Mostly in the form of riffing or monologue
I.E In the starting line of the poem “The Canonization” by John
Donne – there is given a dramatic starting –
“For God’s sake hold your tongue, and let me love”.


4. Cont.
CONCENTRATION;
 an important quality of metaphysical poetry in general.
 Metaphysical poetry was about single themes
 A metaphysical poem tends to be shorter
 The reader is held to one idea
 In “The Extasie”, the principal argument is that the function of man as a man is
being worthily performed through different acts of love.
 He continues with the theme without digression.

5. Cont.
AN EXTENDED EPIGRAMS;
 In poetry, an epigram is usually a short and witty statement that conveys a
single observation or thought.
 Donne’s metaphysical poetry is composed in a similar fashion.
 Content matches the ideas of the epigram
 Nothing is described in detail nor any word is wasted
 Length of poetry is longer than regular epigrams. This is why such poetry
can be termed an “extended epigram”.

6. Cont.
CONCEIT;
 Metaphysical poets were known for creating a comparison of completely
different things
 Comparison was not based on similarities
 Makes a far stretched comparison between a spiritual aspect of a person
and a physical thing in the world
 A metaphysical conceit is an extended metaphor
 I.E The comparisons made in “The flea” and “A valediction: Forbidding
Mourning”