Metaphysical poetry
The most striking feature of Done’s poetry is precisely its tang of reality, in the sense that it seems to reflect life in a real rather than a poetical world..
Done frequently applies conceits.
A. 作品特点
a. The inherently theatrical impression:
John Donne is the leading figure of the “metaphysical school.” His poems give a more inherently theatrical impression.
b. The poetic mode:
The mode is dynamic rather than static, with ingenuity of speech, vividness of imagery and vitality of rhythms.
c. The Stylistic features:
The most striking feature of Donne’s poetry is precisely its tang of reality, in the sense that it seems to reflect life in a real rather than a poetical world.
B. 《歌与十四行诗》及作者的爱情观
The songs and sonnets:
a. The theme:
The Songs and Sonnets, contains most of his early lyrics. Love is the basic theme.
b. The understanding of love:
Donne holds that the nature of love is the union of soul and body. This thought is quite contrary to the medieval love idea. What is more, idealism and cynicism about love coexist in Donne’s love poetry. He sometimes expresses the futility and instability of love in his poems.
c. The stylistic method:
When eulogizing a woman, Donne tells us very little about her physical beauty. Instead, Donne’s interest lies in dramatizing and illustrating the state of being in love.