METAPHYSICAL POETRYROMANTIC MOVEMENT

AFRICAN AMERICAN POETRY

Poetic Movements

How Does a Certain Era Get Its Name?!The Stone Age – The Ice Age

Certain Periods get their Names Due to Common Characteristics Observed by Authorities of the profession e.g.: Critics or Historians

Metaphysical PoetryA Division of the Age of Reason

Samuel Johnson* refers to the beginning of the 17th century in which there "appeared a race of writers that may be termed the metaphysical poets”

* Samuel Johnson is a poet and critic who gave the name but does not belong to the movement

Characteristics of Metaphysical Poets

Beginning of the 17th century (reflected in language)

It belongs to the Age of Reason so the ideas are all supported by logic even when the theme is humorous, or speak of love

The poets of the Metaphysics promote intellect and learning with all its branches (philosophy, religion, and even science)

Conceit (showing off): poets of the metaphysics showed off their learning and wit

Paradox: since a paradox “teases” the mind, it was a favourite technique for the metaphysics

Poets of the Metaphysics

John Donne (1572–1631) George Herbert (1593–1633) Andrew Marvell (1621–1678) Saint Robert Southwell (c. 1561–1595) Richard Crashaw (c. 1613–1649) Thomas Traherne (1636 or 1637 – 1674) Henry Vaughan (1622–1695)

The following poets have also been sometimes considered metaphysical poets George Chapman (c. 1559–1634) Thomas Carew (1595–1640) Abraham Cowley (1618–1667) Edward Herbert (1583–1648) Katherine Philips (1632–1664), Sir John Suckling (1609–1642) Edward Taylor (c. 1642–1729) Anne Bradstreet (c. 1612–1672) John Wilmot, 2nd Earl of Rochester (1647–1680)

Death Be Not Proudby John Donne

Death be not proud, though some have called theeMighty and dreadfull, for, thou art not soe,For, those, whom thou think'st, thou dost overthrow,Die not, poore death, nor yet canst thou kill mee.From rest and sleepe, which but thy pictures bee,Much pleasure, then from thee, much more must flow,And soonest our best men with thee doe goe,Rest of their bones, and soules deliverie.Thou art slave to Fate, Chance, kings, and desperate men,And dost with poyson, warre, and sicknesse dwell,And poppie, or charmes can make us sleepe as well,And better then thy stroake; why swell'st thou then?One short sleepe past, wee wake eternally,And death shall be no more; death, thou shalt die.