But this is not true and this poetry does not denote any queer or vague trend, but rather bears a number of specific features that give it a distinctive merit. Eliot points out the difference by dividing the poets into two kinds. Eliot, whose essay the metaphysical poets 1921 praised the very antiromantic and intellectual qualities of which johnson and his contemporaries had disapproved, and helped bring their poetry back into favour with readers. Metaphysical poetry is very often defined as some thing fantastic or vague. In this essay eliot argued that the works of these men embody a fusion of thought and feeling that later poets were unable to achieve because. Chapter iii ts eliot and metaphysical poetry shodhganga. Donne 1572 1631 was the most influential metaphysical poet. The use of poetry and the use of criticism 1933 religion and literature 1935 from. The phrase denotes the fusion of thought and emotion. Eliot championed the metaphysical poets in an essay of 1921 and a subsequent series of cambridge lectures. The term metaphysical was termed by 18thcentury critic samuel johnson.
Metaphysical poets were highly regarded in 20thcentury british poetry and criticism after three centuries of neglect and disdain. Eliot, the 1948 winner of the nobel prize in literature, is one of the giants of modern literature, highly distinguished as a poet, literary critic, dramatist, and editor and publisher. The metaphysical poets download ebook pdf, epub, tuebl, mobi. S eliot s essay the metaphysical poets is an important landmark in the history of literary criticism. By collecting these poems from the work of a generation more often named than read, and more often read than profitably studied, professor grierson has rendered a service of some importance. The metaphysical poets is the landmark essay by eliot in which he has defended the metaphysical poets from johnsons objections and he has also recognized too. This telescoping of images and multiplied associations is characteristic of the. See more ideas about poetry, metaphysical poetry and john donne. Strictly speaking, metaphysical p oetry d oes not r epresent t o an age rather it is a d istinctive school of thought. Not only is it extremely difficult to define metaphysical poetry, but difficult to decide what poets practice it and in which of their verses.
That is called pedantry they used a high level of wit in their poetry, conceit is one of the main features of metaphysical poets, they delighted in farfetched images and uncommon ideas. This is also reflected in the structure of the paper. In addition to his poetry, by 1932, eliot was already accepted as one of. John donne, indeed, is a metaphysical poet but many critics doubt it. The most striking characteristic of the metaphysical poets is their possession of what t. The metaphysical poets provides an introduction to the work of six strikingly various and original poets donne, herbert, crashaw, vaughan, marvell and traherne. Selected essays, 19171932 is a collection of prose and literary criticism by t. Both the modernists and the metaphysical poets thought that literature should be intellectually robust and that it should grapple with big ideas. After eliots rehabilitating effect, the metaphysical poets have taken. Nevertheless, eliot chose donne, crashaw and cowley, who all belonged to the seventeenth century as the main representatives of the metaphysical poets.
Ts eliot on the metaphysical poets posted on december 5, 2017 by simon lavery the first extract in bold below was the title of one of my first essays as an undergraduate. Eliot s famous essay the metaphysical poets interest peaked this century with the new critics school around midcentury, and now is tempering off a bit, though donne, the original big name is being superseded now by interest in george herbert. Eliot as critic and poet is to analyse eliot s view of john donne in relation to his own poetry and critical work. It has bought about revaluation and reassessment of donne and other metaphysical poets, and has caused a revival of interest in these poets, who had been neglected for a considerable time. These poets were not formally affiliated and few were highly regarded until 20th century attention established their importance. In this essay eliot argued that the works of these men embody a fusion. It used literary elements of similes, metaphors, imagery, paradoxes, conceit, and farfetched views of reality the bold metaphysical poetry of john donne in the seventeenth century, john donnes writing was considered extreme. Eliot, in particular, saw in this group of poets a capacity for devouring all kinds of experience. Metaphysical poetry is a term applied to many poets who wrote in a rather difficult and abstract style during the 1600s. Thomas stearns eliot was a poet, dramatist and literary critic. The metaphysical poets were eclipsed in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries by romantic and victorian poets, but twentiethcentury readers and scholars, seeing in the metaphysicals an attempt to understand pressing political and scientific upheavals, engaged them with renewed interest. John dryden, while writing on john donne, mentioned. Eliot is a classicist in literature and supports orderliness both in art and criticism.
By closely examining how the poems work, the book aims to help. The phrase metaphysical poetry has long done duty as a term of abuse, or as the label of a quaint and pleasant. Metaphysical poetry for english hons metaphysical poetry for ma english metaphysical poets metaphysical poetry characteristics metaphysical poetry for net ugc by rahul sharma. Eliot was fond of recommending that readers engage with the. Includes bibliographical references and index reflections on vers libre 1917 tradition and the individual talent 1919 hamlet 1919 the perfect critic 1921 the metaphysical poets 1921 the function of criticism 1923 from. The term metaphysical was applied more or less accidentally to designate a particular group of poets. It is because donnes poetry is limited to emotions, whereas in conventional terms, metaphysical poems are long and poetry of metaphysics is about the philosophical system of. Dr johnson has spelled out some characteristics of metaphysical poetry. Alfred prufrock and other poems that are landmarks in the history of literature. John donne as a metaphysical poet what is metaphysical. Donne is, according to eliot, in the direct line of english poetry. The metaphysical poets is a term coined by the poet and critic samuel. Click download or read online button to get the language of the metaphysical poets book now. Grierson rightly points out that the peculiar blend of passion and thought, feeling and ratiocination, is the greatest achievement of the metaphysical poets.
Griersons edition of metaphysical lyrics and poems of the 17th century. Characteristics of metaphysical poetry in english literature. The language of the metaphysical poets download ebook. The phrase metaphysical poetry is derived from the scornful remarks of some restoration or 18thcentury critics. Strictly speaking, metaphysical means concerned with the fundamental problems of the nature of the universe and mans function or place in life, but this literal sense is misleading. It is a critical document of much value and significance. John donne and andrew marvell are probably the best known of these poets. Eliot praises the metaphysical poets for their successful attempt to unite what resists unification. The poetry of donne is intensely personal and one can reconstruct from his love songs and holy sonnets an attractive picture of his personality. The main concern of this essay is to what extent the so called metaphysical formed a school and how far this school or movement is a digression from the main. He received the nobel prize in literature in 1948 for his outstanding, pioneer contribution to presentday poetry. Eliots influential essay the metaphysical poets 1921.
Moreover, it focuses on love, as the union of soul. Metaphysical poetry metaphysical poetry in english literature. A brief guide to metaphysical poets academy of american. Eliots the metaphysical poets journal of modern literature 27. The revival of metaphysical poetry, 18721912 jstor. Metaphysical poets essay the term metaphysical poets was coined by the poet and critic samuel johnson to describe a loose group of british lyric poets of the 17th century, whose work was characterized by the inventive use of conceits, and by speculation about topics such as love or religion. What are the characteristics of metaphysical poetry. Matthiessen gave his observation on eliot s contribution to the revival of interest in metaphysical poetry in. Eliot s interest in donne was neither academic nor modish. Esteem for metaphysical poetry never stood higher than in the 1930s and 40s, largely because of t. A brief guide to metaphysical poets academy of american poets.
The term metaphysical poets was coined by the critic samuel johnson to describe a loose group of 17thcentury english poets whose work was characterized by the inventive use of conceits, and by a greater emphasis on the spoken rather than lyrical quality of their verse. The metaphysical poets were men of learning, and to show their learning was their whole endeavour. Metaphysical poets were mostly scholars and they believed in showing off their learning. Characteristics of metaphysical poets english summary. He rejects impressionistic criticism of arthur symons and philosophical. In 1910 and 1911, while still a college student, he wrote the love song of j.
Eliot s work fundamentally changed literary thinking and selected essays provides both an overview and an indepth examination of his theory. Grierson for his valuable collection and hails it as a piece of criticism and a provocation of criticism. To unite thought and feeling, the poetic and unpoetic, form and content, was the main quality of the metaphysical poets. Johnsons use of the phrase metaphysical poetry as a term of abuse or as the label of quaint and pleasant taste. As a poet interested in finding a new medium for the expression of a complex sensibility, eliot discovered in the metaphysical in the kind of experience they were trying to convey and in their craftsmanship. Metaphysical poetry is a term applied to many poets who wrote in a rather difficult and abstract. Studying metaphysical poetry the sudden transmission playfulness to high pitched passion, the interplay of levity and seriousness are characteristic of the poetry of donne. The poetry of donne is intensely personal and one can reconstruct from his love songs and. Alfred prufrock, the waste land, the hollow men, ash wednesday, and four quartets. John donne and george herbert were the most significant of all the metaphysical poets.
1189 255 1267 715 843 746 1163 997 20 1520 161 1325 655 624 614 341 1370 828 328 964 331 78 817 51 74 913 1203 1032 19 218 662 41 754 419 631 591 206 620 1093 461 956 356