John Donne & the Metaphysical Elements

Metaphysical poets is a label often attached to a loosely connected group of seventeenth-century poets, among whom the central figures are John Donne, George Herbert, Henry Vaughan, Andrew Marvell, and Richard Crashaw. It is traditionally said that the group was united by the use of far-fetched comparisons, or ‘conceits’ (a conceit came to mean a striking parallel between two highly dissimilar things such as the comparison of the sun partly obscured by a cloud to a lover whose head is resting on a pillow).

Like many of us, John Donne thought too much about everything. It was always the complaint against John Donne's love poetry, during the centuries that his work was neglected – Dr Johnson complained that he “perplexes the minds of the fair sex with nice speculations of philosophy.” Yet, for most of us now, he is often one of the most physical and sensual of love poets – he had to wait to find his readership. As a young rake, he mocks the women he seduces for falling for his charm – he is not always likable in the early songs and sonnets, but he tells us things we need to know about lust and its often tawdry fulfillment. This book is a guide for understanding the concept and the main elements of the Metaphysical poetry and John Donne poetry as well. In addition, it includes the most famous works of John Donne: Songs & Sonnets, The Elegies, Divine Poems and other works.