Metaphysical Conceit in the Poetry of John Donne Essay examples -- Bio

Metaphysical Conceit in the Poetry of John Donne more of John Donnes poems contain metaphysical conceits and intellectual reasoning to build a deeper understanding of the speakers emotional state. A metaphysical conceit can be defined as an extended, unconventional metaphor between objects that appear to be unrelated. Donne is exceptionally good at creating unusual unions between different elements in order to illustrate his point and form a persuasive object in his poems. By using metaphysical conceits in A farewell Forbidding Mourning, Donne attempts to convince his love (presumably his wife) that parting is a positive convey which should not be looked upon with sadness. In the first stanza, Donne compares the speakers departure to the mild decease of virtuous men who pass on so peacefully that their love ones find it difficult to detect the exact moment of their remainder. Their separation must be a calm transition like this form of death which Donne describes. The poet w rites, let us race, and make no noise(line 5). Cavanaugh explains that the word melt refers to a change in physical state and says that the bond of the lovers forget dissolve quietly like the soul of a dying bit separating from his body(par. 5). I do not entirely agree with Cavanaughs conception that the lovers bond will dissolve, but I do agree that there is a change in physical state. The bond will relieve be present, only altered because of the absence of a physical presence. The adjoining conceit that is used by Donne is based on the Ptolemaic figure of the universe as being divided into moving spheres. This obsolete point would only be known by individuals who were well educated, as Donne plainly was. Donnes allusion to the studies... ...Donne, it can be seen that although every poem is unique, there are ad hoc elements that are common in all of them. Works Cited Abrams, M.H., ed. The Norton Anthology of English Literature. new-fashioned York W.W. Norton & Compan y, Inc., 1993. Cavanaugh, Cynthia A. The Circle of Souls in John Donnes A Valediction Forbidding Mourning. The Luminarium. 1999. ( 3 December 1999) Donne, John. A Valediction Forbidding Mourning. Abrams, 1093-1094. Donne, John. A Valediction Of Weeping. Abrams, 1089. Donne, John. The Indifferent. Abrams, 1085-1086. Donne, John. The Flea. Abrams, 1090-1091. Mourgues, Odette De. Metaphysical, churrigueresco and Precieux Poetry. Folcroft, PA The Folcroft Press, Inc., 1969. Venus, of Greek Religion. The 1997 Canadian Encyclopedia Plus. CD-ROM. Toronto McClelland & Stewart Inc., 1996.