As we find all these characteristics and features in John Donne’s poetry, therefore it is easy to

say that John Donne is the metaphysical poet. However it is Dryden who first of all used this
term for John Donne by sayi8ng that “he affects the metaphysics.” Concentration is an
important quality of metaphysical poetry in general and John Donne’s poetry in particular. As
Helen Gardner says, “The first characteristic of metaphysical poetry is its concentration. The
reader is held to an idea or a line of argument. He is not invited to pause upon a passage,
wander with it and muse upon and dream upon it.”

WHERE CAN WE FINDE TWO BETTER HEMISPHERES

WITHOUT SHARP NORTH, WITHOUT DECLINING WEST?
WHATEVER DYES, WAS NOT MIXT EQUALITY;
IF OUR TWO LOVES BE ONE, OR, THOU AND I
LOVE SO ALIKE, THAT NONE DOE SLACKEN, NONE CAN DIE.

Furthermore as fondness for conceits is a major characteristic of metaphysical poetry and John
Donne employs fantastic comparisons. As in the words of Helen Gardner, “In metaphysical
poem, the conceits are instruments of definition in an argument or instrument to persuade.
The poem has something to say which the conceit explicates or something to urge which the
conceit helps to forward.”

Various characteristics of metaphysical poetry

 cleverness of wit displayed through subtle and brilliant images or conceits, associated with
things that at first seem incongruous; the development of the conceit is the development of the
thought; demands concentration, and emotional, intellectual, and sensory response from the
reader
 imagery based on perception of similarity between different things
 scorn for conventional poetic themes and images
 lots of images from learning: geography, maths, alchemy, theology . . .
 lots of images from everyday life
 keen perception and cleverly apt use of words, ideas, connections
 dramatic, colloquial tone
 startling openings; energy, movement
 freedom of rhythm in which we can hear stresses, pauses, tempo
 frequent use of puns and paradoxes
 a fusion of emotion and intellect – typically, metaphysical poetry requires deep and difficult
thought as well as feeling from the reader
 uses words which call the mind into play, rather than words which appeal to the senses or
evoke an emotional response (through memory)

What is wit: - The dictionary definition mentions a keen perception and cleverly apt expression
of amusing words or ideas or of those connections between ideas which awaken amusement and
pleasure. Wit is revealed in the unusual or ingenious use of words rather than in the subject
matter.
Inferior wit lies in the use of paradox, pun, oxymoron and word-play. Higher wit is the
discovery of conceits and the assembly and synthesis of ideas which appear dissimilar or
incongruous.