The document presents a presentation on metaphysical poetry by Alpa Ponda, highlighting John Donne as its founder and the term 'metaphysical poetry' coined by Dr. Samuel Johnson. It discusses the characteristics of major metaphysical poets, differences from Elizabethan writers, and the use of intricate arguments and unconventional imagery in their works. The analysis includes specific examples, such as Donne's poem 'The Flea,' which employs biological imagery to explore themes of love and desire.

1. Presented by Alpa Ponda
Smt.S.B Gardi Department of
English MKBU
Presentation topic -Metaphysical poetry
Paper no-1 Renaissance Literature
M.A Sem-1
Roll no-04
Enrolment no- 2069108420170025
Batch -2016-2018
Email Id – alpaponda.7@gmail.com

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

3. MAJOR METAPHYSICAL
POETS
JOHN DONNE
GEORGE HERBERT
ANDREW MARVELL
ABRAHUM COWLEY
RICHARD CHRESHEW
HENRY VAUGHAN

4. BIRD’S VIEW ON
METAPHYSICAL POETRY
- Metaphysical poets were literate and degree
holders .Display their scholarship through
metaphysical poetry.
- Differentiate themselves from Elizabethan
writers. Didn’t use traditional images and
conceits in their poetry.
- According to critic, Helen C. White, If the
poets would have written the poetry like their
formers, they would be rejected. Because it
was the time when reading class were
increased and these poets fed their hunger of
exersinging their mind

5. DRAWBACK
More a trial of finger and not the trial of
ear.
- Dr. Johnson

6. TECHNIQUES
INTRICATE ARGUMENTS
John Donne’s most of the poetries have this
element of strong argument for
persuation( strong force) of something.
Eg. THE FLEA
USE OF PARADOX.
It is a self contradictory. But it has something
in its deep.
Eg. The Chriastian way of saying that we only
gain life by loosing it.

7. ARRESTING OPENING
He is the master of the arresting opening
lines good. He has proved it in
TO HIS MISTRESS GOING TO BED
SWEETEST LOVE I DO NOT GO
ANALOGIES DRAWN BETWEEN DIFFERENT
BRANCHES OF LEARNING
Donne and his followers bring images from
various fields like geometry, agriculture,
engineering, biology and architecture.
E.g. The Flea

9. THE FLEA BY JOHN DONNE
This poetry by John Donne, he makes
use of a biological image of The Flea.
he is trying to convince lover’s purpose
somehow he wants to pursue his sexual
desire is not a shame. It has purity the
innermost.
let us discuss this poem

11. T
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