National University of Modern Languages

(NUML)
Department of English

Assignment
Course Title: Classical Poetry

Submitted to: Ma’am Uzma

Submitted by: Kainat Maheen
Reg. ID: NUML-S19-18020
‘3rd Semester Section C’

Date of Submission: June 13,2020

 Metaphysical Poetry
‘Metaphysical’ came from: from metaphysics, the branch of philosophy dealing with, among other
things, the relationship between mind and matter, or between the physical world and human
consciousness. Etymologically, “metaphysical” is a combination of two words ‘meta’ means ‘beyond’
and ‘physical’ means ‘physical nature’. Metaphysical is derived from the Greek ‘ta meta ta phusika’
("after the things of nature"); referring to an idea, doctrine, or posited reality outside of human sense
perception.

It is a type of poetry written during the seventeenth century that deals with the things that are
beyond this the existence of the physical world. It consists of a group of poets from the 17th century
whose works are characterized by philosophical exploration, colloquial diction, ingenious conceits,
irony, and metrically flexible lines.

Literary critic and poet Samuel Johnson first coined the term 'metaphysical poetry' in his book
Lives of the Most Eminent English Poets (1179-1781). In the book, Johnson wrote about a group
of 17th-century British poets that included John Donne, George Herbert, Richard Crashaw, Andrew
Marvell and Henry Vaughan. He noted how the poets shared many common characteristics,
especially ones of wit and elaborate style. John Donne is often said to be the first metaphysical poet,
and Donne's effectiveness for original, intellectually complex poetry certainly helped set the trend for
the poetry that followed him.

The metaphysical poets made conscious attempt to differ by displaying their learning and
scholarship in their poems. They were highly learned and they tried to prove their learning through
their poetry.

Characteristics

Key characteristics of metaphysical poetry include: complicated mental and emotional

experience, unusual and sometimes deliberately contrived metaphors and similes, and the idea that
the physical and spiritual universes are connected.

The most common characteristic is that metaphysical poetry contained large doses of wit. In fact,
although the poets were examining serious questions about the existence of God or whether a human
could possibly perceive the world, the poets were sure to ponder those questions with humor. In this
sense, it makes the seriousness a bit light in intensity.

Metaphysical poetry also sought to shock the reader and wake him or her up from his or her
normal existence in order to question the unquestionable. The poetry often mixed ordinary speech
with paradoxes and puns. The results were strange, comparing unlikely things, such as lovers to a
compass or the soul to a drop of dew. These weird comparisons were called conceits. Donne, for
instance, uses the phrase "busy old foole" in his poem, "The Sun Rising.".

Metaphysical poetry also explored a few common themes. They all had a religious sentiment. In
addition, many of the poems explored the theme of carpe diem (seize the day) and investigated the
humanity of life. They are argumentative, intellectual, realistic and rational in their approach
 Metaphysical poets use figure of speech excessively. For instance, “you are as slow as a snail.”
Their similes and metaphors are farfetched and are often drawn from unfamiliar source.Their images
are logical and intellectual rather than sensuous or emotional. Images taken from field of knowledge,
science, agriculture, geography, history, astronomy, chemistry, architecture, geometry, mathematics,
biology, medical etc.

Fondness for conceits is another major character of metaphysical poetry. The kind of elaborate,
extended metaphor or analogy is also known as a conceit. For example:

The Pulley by George Herbert

O, how I long to travel back,

And tread again that ancient track!

That I might once more reach that plain

Where first I left my glorious train,

From whence th’ enlightened spirit sees

That shady city of palm trees.

But, ah! my soul with too much stay

Is drunk, and staggers in the way.

Some men a forward motion love;

But I by backward steps would move,

And when this dust falls to the urn,

In that state I came, return.

This poem comprises the sentiments of the speaker who wants to retreat to his innocent
childhood. The central metaphysical characteristic of the poem is the conceit he has used to compare
life to a long journey. Through this conceit, the poet unfolds a philosophical thought that the soul
relates to heaven before this earthly existence. The poem expresses his profound hope that he might
venture back to the state he initially came from.

Carelessness in diction is another characteristic of metaphysical poetry. These poems reacted

against the cloying sweetness and harmony of the Elizabethan Poetry. They deliberately avoided
conventional poetic expression.

Metaphysical poetry serves the public as a pause. This offers them the ability to focus on things
which are not widely seen and different. Metaphysical poetry's challenging approach helps the
readers to concentrate on the things that exist outside this universe. It also allows the writers to
express their inner thoughts in the verses though higher cognitive skills are required to understand
the concepts and abstract ideas presented in metaphysical texts.
References
https://literarydevices.net/metaphysical/

https://interestingliterature.com/2020/03/what-is-metaphysical-poetry-introduction-definition-summary/

https://study.com/academy/lesson/metaphysical-poetry-definition-characteristics-examples.html

https://englishstudyhub.blogspot.com/2014/11/metaphysical-poetry-definition.html