Ronald Carter - THE METAPHYSICAL POETSHad we but world enough, and time, This...

THE METAPHYSICAL POETSHad we but world enough, and time, This coyness, lady, were no crime(Andrew Marvell, To His Coy Mistress)While theatre was the most public literary form of the period, poetry tended to be more personal, more private. Indeed, it was often published for only a limited circle of readers. This was true of Shakespeare's sonnets, as we have seen, and even more so for the Metaphysical poets, whose works were published mostly after their deaths. John Donne and George Herbert are the most significant of these poets. The term 'Metaphysical' was used to describe their work by the eighteenth-century critic, Samuel Johnson. He intended the adjective to be pejorative. He attacked the poets' lack of feeling, their learning, and the surprising range of images and comparisons they used. Donne and Herbert were certainly very innovative poets, but the term 'Metaphysical' is only a label, which is now used to describe the modern impact of their writing. After three centuries of neglect and disdain, the Metaphysical poets have come to be very highly regarded and have been influential in recent British poetry and criticism. They used contemporary scientific discoveries and theories, the topical debates on humanism, faith, and eternity, colloquial speech-based rhythms, and innovative verse forms, to examine the relationship between the individual, his God, and the universe. Their 'conceits', metaphors and images, paradoxes and intellectual complexity make the poems a constant challenge to the reader.

Ronald Carter

They Said So®

Ronald Carter Quotes

;

THE METAPHYSICAL POETSHad we but world enough, and time, This coyness, lady, were no crime(Andrew Marvell, To His Coy Mistress)While theatre was the most public literary form of the period, poetry tended to be more personal, more private. Indeed, it was often published for only a limited circle of readers. This was true of Shakespeare's sonnets, as we have seen, and even more so for the Metaphysical poets, whose works were published mostly after their deaths. John Donne and George Herbert are the most significant of these poets. The term 'Metaphysical' was used to describe their work by the eighteenth-century critic, Samuel Johnson. He intended the adjective to be pejorative. He attacked the poets' lack of feeling, their learning, and the surprising range of images and comparisons they used. Donne and Herbert were certainly very innovative poets, but the term 'Metaphysical' is only a label, which is now used to describe the modern impact of their writing. After three centuries of neglect and disdain, the Metaphysical poets have come to be very highly regarded and have been influential in recent British poetry and criticism. They used contemporary scientific discoveries and theories, the topical debates on humanism, faith, and eternity, colloquial speech-based rhythms, and innovative verse forms, to examine the relationship between the individual, his God, and the universe. Their 'conceits', metaphors and images, paradoxes and intellectual complexity make the poems a constant challenge to the reader. Ronald Carter

They Said So®

Keywords

metaphysical poetshad world time coyness lady crime andrew marvell coy mistress theatre public literary form period poetry tended personal private published limited circle readers true shakespeare' sonnets poets works deaths john donne george herbert significant term 'metaphysical' describe work eighteenth-century critic samuel johnson intended adjective pejorative attacked poets' lack feeling learning surprising range images comparisons innovative label modern impact writing centuries neglect disdain highly regarded influential recent british criticism contemporary scientific discoveries theories topical debates humanism faith eternity colloquial speech-based rhythms verse forms examine relationship individual god universe 'conceits' metaphors paradoxes intellectual complexity make poems constant challenge reader

Explore other Authors

Richard M. Daley

Ann Veneman

Eric Roberts

Scott Ritter

Douglas MacArthur

Carl Levin

J.D. Robb

Sidney Sheldon

Joe Baca

Erich Fromm

Jane D. Hull

Edwin Louis Cole

If you are using this quote in any webpage , printmedia or any other places please use the following methods to cite this quotation.

MLA Style Citation

"A quote by Ronald Carter" theysaidso.com, 2024. Apr 24, 2024. https://theysaidso.com/quote/ronald-carter-the-metaphysical-poetshad-we-but-world-enough-and-timethis-coyness

APA Style Citation

"A quote by Ronald Carter" (n.d.). theysaidso.com. Retrieved Apr 24, 2024, from theysaidso.com web site : https://theysaidso.com/quote/ronald-carter-the-metaphysical-poetshad-we-but-world-enough-and-timethis-coyness

Chicago Style Citation

"A quote by Ronald Carter". theysaidso.com, 2024. https://theysaidso.com/quote/ronald-carter-the-metaphysical-poetshad-we-but-world-enough-and-timethis-coyness , accessed Apr 24, 2024.

Comments

Authentication required

You must log in to post a comment.

There are no comments yet.