Definition and Characteristics of Metaphysical Poetry
The word ‘Metaphysical Poetry’ is a philosophical concept used in literature where poets portray the things/ideas that are beyond the depiction of physical existence. Etymologically, there is a combination of two words ‘meta’ and ‘physical in the word “metaphysical”.’ The first word “Meta” means beyond. So metaphysical means beyond physical, beyond the normal and ordinary. The meanings are clear here that it deals with the objects/ideas that are beyond the existence of this physical world. Let us look at the origin of word metaphysical poetry in more detail.
Origin of the Word Metaphysical Poetry
In the book “Lives of the Most Eminent English Poets (1179-1781)”, the author Samuel Johnson made the first use of the word Metaphysical Poetry. He used the term Metaphysical poets to define a loose group of the poets of the 17th century. The group was not formal and most of the poets put in this category did not know or read each other’s writings. This group’s most prominent poets include John Donne, Andrew Marvell, Abraham Cowley, George Herbert, Henry Vaughan, Thomas Traherne, Richard Crashaw, and others. He noted in his writing that these poets had the same style of wit and conceit in their poetry.
The types of questions metaphysical poetry may make you ask yourself can be:
- Is our world real or a projection?
- Is there an afterlife?
- Can souls time travel?
- Is God out there?
- Are we restricted in our bodies or free?
- Is fate real?
There are just so many questions like that, which otherwise we might ignore. The thing that is obvious here is that none of these questions has a definite answer in science. It is all about belief and philosophy.
Definition of Metaphysical Poetry
Metaphysical poetry is a genre of poetry that deals with deep and profound subjects like spirituality, religion, etc. It is highly intellectual form of poetry and presents the world to its readers in a different way. It asks questions that science cannot answer. Metaphysical poetry prompts the readers to question their reality and existence. It takes one beyond the physical world and gives new perspectives through its imagery, wit, and paradox.
Definition in Merriam-Webster Dictionary
“Highly intellectualized poetry marked by bold and ingenious conceits, incongruous imagery, complexity and subtlety of thought, frequent use of paradox, and often by deliberate harshness or rigidity of expression”
Characteristics of Metaphysical poetry
- Metaphysical poetry talks about deep things. It talks about soul, love, religion, reality, etc. You can never be sure about what is coming your way while reading a metaphysical poem. There can be unusual philosophies and comparisons that will make you think and ponder.
- The most important characteristics of metaphysical poetry is “undissociated sensibility” (the combination of feeling and thoughts).
- Even though it talks about serious stuff, it talks about it in a humorous way. The tone is sometimes light. It can be harsh sometimes too. The purpose is to present a new idea and make the reader think.
- Another characteristic of such poetry is that it is unclear. Because it provides such complicated themes, the idea of metaphysical poems is somewhat not definite. It is different for every person. It depends on the perception and experiences of the reader. Every person will take something different out of the same poem based on their beliefs and understanding.
- Metaphysical poetry is also short. It uses brief words and conveys a lot of ideas in just a few words. There are many maxims in this type of poetry too. John Donne introduced sayings into metaphysical poetry.
- The unusual comparison of things in poetry is one of its unique and most interesting characteristics. All the Metaphysicals have ability for unusual, witty comparison, juxtaposition, and imagery. These unusual comparison are metaphysical conceits. As Donne in Twicknam Garden uses expression “spider love” that is contrary to the expectations of the readers. In the same poem, Donne also compares a lover’s tears to wine of love that is an unusual use of juxtaposition. Conceit compares very dissimilar things. For example bright smoke, calling lovers as two points of compass, taking soul as dew drop, etc.
- The metaphysical poetry is brain-sprung, not heart-felt. It is intellectual and witty.
- According to Grierson, the two chief characteristics of metaphysical poetry are paradoxical ratiocination and passionate feelings. As Donne opens his poem “The indifferent” with a line with a paradoxical comment. “I can love both fair and brown”
- Other unique feature of this poetry is Platonic Love. The word is taken after Plato. Platonic love is a non-romantic love. There is no lust or need of physical contact. It is spiritual love and is mostly for God.
- Another feature of the metaphysical poetry is its fantastic lyrics style. As A. C. Word said: “The metaphysical style is a combination of two elements, the fantastic form and style, and the incongruous in matter and manner”. The versification of the metaphysical poetry is also coarse and jerky like its diction. The main intention of the Metaphysicals was to startle the readers. They deliberately avoided conventional poetic style to bring something new to the readers. Their style was not conventional and the versification contrast with much of the Elizabethan writers.
- It arouses some extreme level of thoughts and feelings in the readers by asking life-altering questions.
The Contribution of Metaphysical Poets to English Literature
Here are some of the main contributions of the metaphysical poets to English literature.
- The metaphysical poets enriched English literature with best religious poetry. Donne, Herbert, Crawsha, Vaughan, and Traherence are the most prominent among the religious poets in English.
- Metaphysical poets also contributed a lot in love poetry. Their contribution in love is quite considerable and holds an important place in a history of English literature.
- The ruggedness and vulgarity in versification and diction by metaphysical poets also made a remarkable service to English poets to realize them that mere “smoothness of numbers” does not make a poetry marked as perfection but there are other factors that can make a great poetry.
Prominent Works in Metaphysical Poetry
Some of the great metaphysical poetry works by metaphysical poets include:
The Sun Rising, The Flea, A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning, Death Be Not Proud, Go and Catch a Falling Star by John Donne, The Collar, The Pulley, by George Herbert, The Retreat, by Henry Vaughan, The Definition of Love, To His Coy Mistress, by Andrew Marvell, etc.
Conclusion
Metaphysical poetry is to be read with an open mind. It is not purposely trying to convince readers to think in a certain way but it provides a new way of thinking. Metaphysical poets are highly intellectual and people of learning. Reader’s minds open up, their area of thinking expands, and they awaken by their writings. The challenging approach of such poetry develops the concentration of readers on the things that exist beyond this physical world. It also permits the poets to state their inner thoughts in the poetry though higher cognitive skills are required to digest the abstract ideas and concepts coined in metaphysical texts of poetry.