Metaphysical poetry

It has its roots in XVII century England. It was characterized by the

inventive use of conceits, and by speculation about topics such as
love, life existence and religion. It used literary elements of similes,
metaphors, imagery, paradoxes, conceit, and farfetched
(unbelievable, fantastic, incredible) views of reality. It is humorous
ingenious, highly philosophical. It is deeply religious but also sure
to be ironic and cynical.

What does metaphysical mean?

The literal translation of metaphysical is after the physical. It
means that basically metaphysics deal with questions that cannot
be explained by science. It questions the nature of reality in a
philosophical way.
Some common question:
Does God exist?
Is there a difference between the way things appear to us
and the way they really are? (What is the difference between
reality and perception?)
Is everything that happens already and perception?
Is consciousness limited to the brain?

Characteristics
The most common characteristic is that metaphysical poetry
contained large doses (quantities, amounts) of wit (Humor).
Although the poets were examining serious questions about the
existence of God or whether a human could possibly perceive the
world, the poets were sure to ponder (think about) those questions
with humor.
Metaphysical also want to shock the reader and wake him or her up
from his or her normal existence in order to question the
unquestionable.
Far-fetched or unusual similes or metaphors.

John Donne (Dunn)

He was an English poet and cleric in the Church of England. He is

known as the founder metaphysical poets as the leading poet of
this form of poetry. Donne was influenced by Neo-Platonism. Donne
was influenced by the belief that the precision of beauty in the
adored behaved as a commemoration of ideal beauty in the
everlasting kingdom. He also used unconventional and colloquial
rhythm and tone, which was highly contrary to the Elizabethan
poetry style.
His major volumes of work are: Satires and Song, and Sonnets.

Elizabethan literature, I comes to be dominated by the sonnet.

Poetry moves away from the narrative to the lyric. Drama imitates
and builds on Greek and Roman tragedy, particularly in the person
of Shakespeare. It was highly stylized. Romance dominated all
types of literature including drama and plays that were the highest
importance during this time. This literature was heavily influenced
by Italian, Spanish and French literature, but specially Italian.
Famous and prolific writers: William Shakespeare, Sir Philip Sidney,
Edmund Spenser, Roger Ascham, Christopher Marlowe and Thomas
Wyatt.

Metaphysical poets

John Donne
George Herbert
Richard Crashaw
Andrew Marvell
John Cleveland
Saint Robert Southwell
Jorge Luis Borges (Argentina)

These all share the characteristics of wit and elaborate style.

Metaphysical poetry
They are all highly intellectualized, use rather strange imagery, use
frequent paradox and contain extremely complicated thought.
It is not regarded as a genre of poetry. Samuel Johnson introduced
the name

Paradoxes (enigmas, absurdities) and puns (witticisms,

jokes)
Weird comparisons Conceits
Baroque period
New Platonism