John Donne Poetry Analysis - 2693 Words

John Donne Poetry Essay The metaphysical poets were segregated in the seventeenth century to form a new and distinct style of poetry that employed immaculate wit, complex metaphors and luminous imagery. John Donne’s poetry is no exception to the form and thematic volume of the metaphysicals. Donne explores ideas in a manner which some readers find confronting and enlightening through relentless use of metaphysical conceits and his direct address to an individual or god. Donne confronts and enlightens seventeenth century readers with his elaborate perspective on love and his perception of death. Although these are two dissimilar subjects, they are interwoven in many of Donne’s poems which includes, ‘A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning,’†¦show more content†¦It was universally approved that the earth was the centre of the universe and the ‘spheres’ or planets revolved around mankind. This theory is significant in ‘A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning,â€℠¢ as it emphasises the imminence between spiritual lovers. The ‘moving of the Earth,’ and ‘trepidation of spheres,’ reveals the dimension and driving force behind the awesome power of nature, virtually beyond human understanding and control. Donne explores this idea to describe two different events of gigantic proportion to display the cause of ‘harms and fears,’ or ‘innocence,’ which emphasises the idea of the silent mixing of the disjointed souls. If celestial spheres are capable of shaking with ‘innocence,’ the lovers may similarly impart their love in ‘silence,’ absent of turbulent and chaotic earthquakes. Donne condenses the magnitude of celestial spheres and earthquakes and likens their differences to the love shared between two bodies and two souls. Donne’s representation of love is enlightening as it elevates the subject of love through religious support and holy definitions. However, Donne’s metaphoric conceit of a compass displaying the bond between man and woman is confronting in the contemporary context. The metaphoric conceit of the compass enlightens and confronts the readers across both, the seventeenth century and the modern context. The compass describes the lovers ‘joined at the highest point.’ This elevates love and supports the sanctified and divine image ofShow MoreRelatedMetaphysical Poetry of John Donne1441 Words   |  6 PagesFurnish AP Literature Mrs. Hendricks November 1, 2012 Literary Analysis of John Donne This examination of John Donne’s metaphysical poetry includes analysis of Donne’s use of topic, structure, scansion, style and theme. John Donne is known as one of the best writers of metaphysical poetry, a genre of poetry that is characterized specifically by themes of knowledge, intellect, and having a somewhat unrecognizable meter or rhyme. Metaphysical poetry forsakes pure and genial nature of other Elizabethan poetsRead MoreAnalysis Of A Valediction Forbidding Mourning 1108 Words   |  5 Pages An Analysis of â€Å"A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning All relationships must withstand the test of time and distance. When separating, a couple will experience both physical and emotional anguish. Soulmates are said to experience a love with a deeper connection. In this complex yet completely romantic poem, A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning, John Donne employs conceit, symbolism, and tone to poetically paint a picture of the true love that exist between a man and his wife. John DonneRead MoreJohn Donne Love Poetry1442 Words   |  6 Pageslies is that, in poetry, all facts and all beliefs cease to be true or false and become interesting possibilities†¦It may not, perhaps, be absolutely necessary that he believe it, but it is certainly necessary that his emotions be deeply involved, and this they can never be unless, as a man, he takes it more seriously than as a mere poetic convenience.† It is Donne’s sensibility and his personal experiences which are revealed with a vibrancy of language in his love and religious poetry that make himRead MoreThe Flea By John Donne1558 Words   |  7 Pagesâ€Å"The Flea† Essay â€Å"The Flea† by John Donne when looked at briefly is simply a poem about a man trying to seduce a woman into participating in pre-material sexual relationship with him. However, â€Å"The Flea† constructs many more important arguments than simply that one. The poem touches on religion, love, and sex in a non-romanticized way, contrasting the normal glamorized stance seen in most of poetry. Most of John Donne’s poems have either romantic themes or religious themes; â€Å"The Flea† has both. ItRead MoreJohn Donne Speech732 Words   |  3 Pagesus understand how powerful love really is. It is an emotion that can a person go mad or be in perpetual happiness. In the case of John Donne he is a small amount of both crazy and happy. Vincent Hanley states in the article Poetry of John Donne, â€Å"One-sided love is not love at all.† The author of this quote is very in tune with John Donne’s poetry. John Donne’s poetry talks mostly about lov e, and these poems show that love has to be both ways not just one way. In the poem A Valediction: ForbiddingRead MoreTHE MAIN FEATURES OF THE METAPHYSICAL POETRY ILLUSTRATED BY JOHN DONNE1637 Words   |  7 Pages THE MAIN FEATURES OF THE METAPHYSICAL POETRY ILLUSTRATED BY JOHN DONNE The term metaphysical poetry is used to describe a certain type of 17th century poetry. Metaphysical poetry is concerned with the whole experience of man. It means that the poetry is about showing knowledge and thoughts from different areas of experience, especially about love, romantic and sensual; about mans relationship with God and about pleasure, learning and art. Read MoreLove in HJohn Donne ´s A Valediction Forbidding Mourning and Andrew Marvell ´s To His Coy Mistress838 Words   |  4 Pagesprose and poetry have long belabored these two specific areas of discussion, the depth and diversity in approach is something that can only be described with regards to the differential between personalities and the world you of the author in question. Accordingly, the following analysis will be concentric upon discussing and analyzing the approach and understanding of love that two specific poets exhibit within their respective work. The first of these poets that will be analyzed is John Donne in hisRead MoreA Brief Description of the Concept of Courtly Love1200 Words   |  5 Pagespart plays its role in the scenario. Nevertheless, I will keep Capellanus’ definition for the later analysis of the poetry of John Donne in order to clarify which aspects of courtly love may be represented in his verse. John Donne has largely been considered by scholars to be the most original of the metaphysical poets from the seventeenth century. â€Å"He [Donne] affects the metaphysics†, says the poet John Dryden, â€Å"not only in his satires, but in his amorous verses, where nature only should reign; andRead MoreWriting At The University Of Sydney1506 Words   |  7 Pageslisteners to this week’s podcast of The Poet’s Voice, where we like to believe that poetry is language at its most distilled and powerful. I am your weekly host, Judy Robinson and this week, we are joined by the distinguished Professor Brianne Dwyer, who is currently lecturing Creative Writing at the University of Sydney. In today’s segment, guest Brianne Dwyer will be focusing on the influential and prodigious metaphysical poetry movement, most potent in the 15th to 16th Centuries. Thank you for that kindRead MoreIn Donnes Poetry the Religious and the Erotic are Dangerously Confused. Discuss1196 Words   |  5 PagesDonne’s Poetry the religious and the erotic are dangerously confused.’ Discuss. John Donne’s Holy Sonnets were a series of metaphysical poems written during the early 17th Century while he was converting to Anglicism from Roman Catholicism. Sonnet 14, known as â€Å"Batter my heart, three person’d God†, documents how Donne desires God to exercise his mastery over him in order to banish his qualms from his mind, which are manifested in the â€Å"reason† or â€Å"enemy†. However, the language that Donne utilises