The Metaphysical Poetry

A Brief Introduction

The term Metaphysical‘ was first applied by Samuel Johnson’ to writings of a group of poets of the Seventeenth Century. Dr. Johnson borrowed this term from Dryden who said that Donne “affects the Metaphysics” not only in his satires but in his amorous verses

The chief among them were-Andrew Marvell, Richard Crashaw, Abraham Cowley, George Herbert, Henery Vaughan and John Suckling. Among them John Donne was the most prominent. Dr. Johnson writes, “The Metaphysical poets were men of learning, and to show their learning was their whole endeavour….. They neither copied life nor nature, they are not obvious, but neither are they just, ……”

The Restoration Drama : During the Restoration period poetry was developed in a remarkable manner. It is called the 17th Century of drama in English Literature. During this period dramatic literature took a new form. In 1642 the theatres were closed and the period that drama was revived with a new vigour. The two most distinctive forms of the Restoration drama are the ‘Heroic Play’ and the ‘Comedy of Manners’. It was influenced by French fiction and French Drama.

Important Facts to Remember

1. Metaphysics means a branch of philosophy dealing with the nature of existence, truth and knowledge.

2. In popular use metaphysics means mere theory, abstract thought. Thus, the literal meaning of metaphysical is based on abstract reasoning.

3. The netaphysical poets indulged in strange similes, strained metaphors and fare-fetched images.

4. The metaphysical writing abounds in artificiality of thought and hyperbolic expressions.

5. The metaphysical played with thoughts, expressions and fancies.

6. Metaphysical poetry made itself difficult to understand. It was an account of its obscurity.

7. The influence of the metaphysical school of poetry was felt by a group of poets in the 20th Century. These poets are called by A.C. Ward. The New Metaphysicals’. T.S. Eliot and his disciples returned to John Donne for their verse.

8. The masters of the comedy of manners made full use of the comedy of humours and the comedy of intrigies while displaying the aristocratic manners and affectations. Ben Jonson, George Chapman and John Fletcher developed the comedy of humour. The comedy of manners is written by Etherge, Wycherly, Congreve, Vanbrugh and Forquhar.

9. Heroic drama was the most popular form of drama in Restoration Age. The Heroic tragedy was popular by Dryden.