This document discusses the characteristics of metaphysical poetry. It defines metaphysical poetry as highly intellectual poetry marked by ingenious comparisons, complex imagery, and subtle thought expressed through paradox. John Donne is cited as the founder of metaphysical poetry in the early 17th century. Major metaphysical poets included Donne, Herbert, Marvell, and Cowley. Characteristics highlighted include a conscious departure from previous styles, a dramatic tone, displays of scholarship, use of satire/irony, witty comparisons, and themes of platonic love.

1. CHARACTERISTICS OF
METAPHYSICAL POETRY
PREPARED BY NIDHI DAVE
PAPER -1 LITERATURE OF THE ELIZABETHAN AND RESTORATION PERIODS
TOPIC : CHARACTERISTICS OF METAPHYSICAL POETRY
MA SEM :1
SUBMITTED TO: DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH, MKBU

2. WHAT IS METAPHYSICAL POETRY?
• A group of poets emerged in the beginning of the seventeenth century, whose
poetry come to be know as the metaphysical poetry.
• Metaphysical : literally “ meta” means beyond and “physic” means physical nature.
• A word metaphysical first time used by Dr. Johnson in “ The Lives of poet”

3. DEFINITION OF METAPHYSICAL POETRY:
• “ Highly intellectualized poetry marked by bold and
ingenious conceits, incongruous imagery, complexity and
subtlety of thought, frequent use of paradox , and often
by deliberate harshness or rigidity of expression.”

4. HISTORY OF METAPHYSICAL POETRY:-
John Donne was the founder of the Metaphyasical poetry . He tried to write poetry
in a different way.
The name ‘metaphysical poetry’ is given Dr. Samuel Johnson for the first time.
When wrote he the life of Abraham Cowley in his book
“The Lives ’’. But used it in a negative sense to Criticize the poetry of Donne and
his followers but the same term became a mark APPRAISAL of the metaphysical
poetry.

5. MAJOR METAPHYSICAL POETS:-
• John Donne
• George Herbert
• Henry Vaughan
• Richard Crashaw
• Andrew Marvell
• Abraham Cowley
• John Hall

6. METAPHYSICAL POETRY:-
• To His coy Mistress
• The collar
• The sun Rising
• The flea
• The dream
• Death ,Be Not Proud
• Sweetest love I Not go
• The Ecstacy

7. CHARACTERISTICS OF POETRY HIGHLIGHTED BY
DR. JOHNSON:-
* Conscious Attempt:-
All the metaphysical poet made a conscious attempt differ from
the poetry of farmer poets and they try to differ both in the matter and the manner of
writing poetry.
* Dramatic manner and direct tone of speech:-
Is one of the main characteristics of metaphysical poetry. in the starting line of the
poem “ The Canonization .’’ there is given a dramatic starting
“For Gods sake hold your tongue and let me love”

8. * Display of scholarship:-
All the metaphysical poets tried to display there
scholarship through there poems they were university gradutes and men of
learning.
* Usage of satire and irony: -
Is another characteristic or metaphysical poetry. Donne also uses this in his
poems.

9. • Wit:-
wit is another characteristic of metaphysical poetry. So, here we find various
allusions and images relating to practicality all areas of nature and art and learning
– to medicine, cosmology, contemporary discoveries, ancient myth, history, law and
art.
• Platonic love:-
platonic love is another feature of meta physical poetry. Platonic
love means, spiritual love, which is free element of physic love.

10. Thank You