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

Metaphysical Conceit in the rhyme of John Donne Many of John Donnes poems contain metaphysical dressers and intellectual think to build a deeper understanding of the speakers emotional give in. A metaphysical conceit can be defined as an extended, unconventional metaphor amongst objects that appear to be unrelated. Donne is exceptionally good at creating unusual unions among different elements in order to illustrate his point and form a persuasive argument in his poems. By using metaphysical conceits in A parting salutation Forbidding Mourning, Donne attempts to convince his love (presumably his wife) that parting is a positive experience which should not be looked upon with sadness. In the first stanza, Donne compares the speakers divergence to the mild death of virtuous men who pass on so peacefully that their loved ones find it difficult to detect the exact split second of their death. Their separation must be a calm transition interchangeable this form of death which Donne describes. The poet writes, let us melt, and make no disruption(line 5). Cavanaugh explains that the word melt refers to a change in physical state and says that the bail of the lovers will dissolve quietly like the soul of a dying man separating from his body(par. 5). I do not solo agree with Cavanaughs idea that the lovers bond will dissolve, but I do agree that in that respect is a change in physical state. The bond will still be present, only altered because of the absence of a physical presence. The next conceit that is used by Donne is based on the Ptolemaic view of the universe as being divided into lamentable spheres. This obsolete fact would only be known by individuals who were soundly educated, as Donne obviously was. Donnes allusion to the studies... ...Donne, it can be seen that although every poem is unique, there are specific elements that are common in all of them. workings Cited Abrams, M.H., ed. The Norton Anthology of English Literature. New York W .W. Norton & Company, 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, Baroque 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.