Concetti Chiave
- The term "metaphysical" pertains to fundamental issues about the universe and humanity's role within it, often reflecting intellectual and spiritual crises.
- Metaphysical poets used unconventional metaphors and similes, known as "conceits," to create surprising and thought-provoking imagery.
- Their poetry is characterized by paradoxes, concise expressions, and a tendency to pose questions.
- Dramatic elements are common, with poems often starting in the middle of things ("in medias rei").
- Metaphysical poetry features a rich and varied diction, drawing from both Latin and Anglo-Saxon vocabulary.
Meaning of Metaphysical
The word “metaphysical” literally means something which is concerned with the fundamental problems of the nature of the universe and human’s place in it. The literal meaning of the word can be misleading. The metaphysical poets were in a certain sense diverse but they were the reflection of the intellectual and spiritual crisis of the period between the Renaissance and the Modern age. The poet was expected to be both sensitive and clever, to make unusual metaphors arranged in a creative way in order to surprise the reader. Frequent were the references to religious debates, alchemy, astrology and philosophy. Characteristics of this kind of poetry were:
- the repeated combination of metaphysical elements and “conceits” (unconventional types of similes or metaphors);
- paradoxes and epigrammatic conciseness;
- a generalized sense of questioning;
- the element of drama; in most poems the dramatic feature is immediately apparent from the opening lines (opening in “medias rei”);
- the richness and variety of diction; the poets often used words both from Latin and Anglo-Saxon origin;
- the different verse forms.
Rebirth of Metaphysical Poets
The metaphysical poets were largely forgotten in the 18th century but they were revived by the literary works of T.S. Eliot in modern times.
Domande da interrogazione
- What does the term "metaphysical" signify in the context of poetry?
- What are some key characteristics of metaphysical poetry?
- How did the metaphysical poets regain popularity in modern times?
The term "metaphysical" in poetry refers to works that explore fundamental problems of the universe and human existence, often using unusual metaphors and addressing themes like religious debates, alchemy, and philosophy.
Metaphysical poetry is characterized by the use of unconventional similes or metaphors known as "conceits," paradoxes, dramatic elements, a rich and varied diction, and different verse forms.
The metaphysical poets, forgotten in the 18th century, experienced a revival in modern times due to the literary works of T.S. Eliot.
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