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The way of consolation to the poet’s wife shows their deep love for each other in "A Valediction : Forbidding Mourning"

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“A Valediction : Forbidding Mourning” is one of John Donne’s most famous and simplest poems and also his most direct statement of his ideal of spiritual love to his wife. He was supposed to go to France for a business purpose with his friend in 1611. That time his wife started to mourn. To give consolation to his wife the speaker wrote this poem. To console his wife the poet uses some similes, metaphysical conceits etc. Now I am trying to discuss according to the statement. The poem starts with the use of simile. The poet compares their love as virtuous man. Virtuous men are not afraid of death. In the same way true lovers are not afraid of separation. Their loyalty and devotion can be enhanced and tested with separation. The poet proposes his wife to let him go without making any noise. There must be no floods of tears or tempest of sighing. Because it can make their love unholy. It would be a disgrace to their holy love if they portray it like the common people. In the 3...

Metaphysical Poetry: Definition, Characteristics and John Donne as a Metaphysical Poet

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What is Metaphysical Poetry? The term metaphysical or metaphysics in poetry is the fruit of renaissance tree, becoming over ripe and approaching pure science. “Meta” means “beyond” and “physics” means “physical nature”. Metaphysical poetry means poetry that goes beyond the physical world of the senses and explores the spiritual world. Metaphysical poetry began early in the Jacobean age in the last stage of the age of Shakespeare. John Donne was the leader and founder of the metaphysical school of poetry. Dryden used this word at first and said that Donne “affects the metaphysics”. Among other metaphysical poets are Abraham Cowley, Henry Vaughan, Richard Crashaw, Andrew Marvell, George Herbert, Robert Herrick etc. Characteristics of Metaphysical Poetry (1) Dramatic manner and direct tone of speech is one of the main characteristics of metaphysical poetry. In the starting line of the poem “The Canonization” – there is given a dramatic starting – “For God’s sak...

A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning: Donne's way of argument for his pure love with metaphysical conceits

‘A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning’ is one of the most romantic poems written by John Donne. This is a personal poem showing the pure love and devotion of the poet to his beloved. Critics feel that the poem is addressed to his wife Anne More. The poet is about to leave in the end of 1611 for a short visit to France but this absence of a few weeks may not be taken as an occasion of separation and lamentation. The poet’s wife was not in a good health. But the poet shows the nature of unique and true love which can stand separation on account of mutual confidence and affection by applying metaphysical conceits. His arguments seem to be very impressive. The poet argues to his beloved to offer her consolation for his short absence. As the virtuous men are not afraid of death, true lovers, in the same way, are not afraid of separation. Their loyalty and devotion to each other can only be tested and enhanced with separation. The poet proposes his beloved to let themselves past quiet...