The Bard, the poet, he who steals our hearts (and time) with the very essence of human emotions of love, life and beauty. Some poets, like John Donne (1572-1631), who has often been described as a contradiction and whose works run the gamut between sensuality and religious sermons took ideas and experiences to write what is known as Metaphysical Conceits. Other Renaissance writers and poets did as well. Donne also uses metaphors and language to convey several meanings at once. Because the terms often contradict one another, the use of punning can be applied to Donne's writing. He is a skillful poet whose foundation rests in writing church sermons. The fact that he could write such sensual poetry and religious sermons at the same time, is just another facet of his contradictions. Perhaps he, himself, was a contradiction? Donne is also a ward of the clash between the old and the new, the world of faith and the world of reason, between old geographers and Copernicus and his followers. The metaphysical poetry resolves itself into two broad divisions of amorous and religious verse. (Tanvir, 2009)
According to T.S. Eliot, "separation of thoughts from feelings is called dissociation of sensibility. The other called is called unified sensibility which is a combination of thinking and feeling. Metaphysical conceits convey a unified experience." As a metaphysical poet, Donne "made a characteristic use of ideas and experience and the most startling connections are discovered between them. Intellect and wit blending emotion and feelings marks the metaphysical poetry especially that of Donne." (Tanvir, 2009)
"There are at least two ways in which Donne handles metaphors both in his poems and in his sermons. One is to take a conventional analogy and explore its possibilities. The other procedure consists of defining a thing by a number of separate analogies. The same method may have different effects according to the purpose of representing or presenting." (Poetry As A Language Presentation, 2012).
A complete list of John Donne's work can be found here.
For a Christian glimpse into Donne's work and life, click here.
Works Cited:
Poetry As A Language Presentation. 2012. Web. www.escholarship.org/uc/item/3hg0715#page-8
Tanvir, N. Classic English Literature Notes. 2009. Web. www.classic-enotes.com/poetry/john-donne/john-donne-as-a-metaphysical-poet/