Metaphysical Poetry

The metaphysicals is a name that is given to a group of 17th century poets. To this group belong, among others, John Donne, George Herbert and Andrew Marvell. By the word ‘metaphysics’ is meant: the things that are above or higher than the physical things. 'Metaphysics' is the philosophy of knowledge and existence, the philosophy on the nature of being.

The name of this group was “invented” by John Dryden, who said about Donne that “He affects the metaphysics”¹. John Donne is justifiably seen as the founder of this kind of poetry, he was the first to use it. Metaphysical poetry has some specific properties. The poets use intellectual and theological concepts, for instance the resurrection of Christ and the idea that the earth is the center of the universe. What makes it special is the way they use these concepts. They use these concepts in conceits, in paradoxes and unlikely imagery. An example of a conceit can be found Donne’s Holy Sonnet 5. Here Donne compares his own tears with the water of the Flood. (the Flood that is mentioned in the Bible, Genesis chapter 7) This is of course a very far-fetched comparison, but the poetry of the metaphysical poets is full of these kinds of metaphors.

Some literary critics wanted to prove that the metaphysical poets all had the same philosophical world view. But the poets differ to much to see them as such a group. What makes them all ‘metaphysicals’ is their use of the same poetic style.