One of the Main Characteristics of Metaphysical Poetry Is Its Reliance on Bizarre and Unexpected Imagery and Symbolism. Discuss These Characteristics with Reference to Two Poems You Have Studied.

John Donne’s poetry conveys the message that metaphysical poetry is dependent on unpredicted imagery and symbolism. This is expressed through A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning and The Canonization. The usage of Sexual ecstasy, the microcosmic and macrocosmic and odd connotations with love are the main characteristics of John Donne’s metaphysical poetry.

Sexual Ecstasy is concealed behind religious enlightenment. This is expressed in The Valediction: Forbidding Mourning. The “profanation of our joys/To tell the laity our love” juxtaposes profanation and laity. The joys that the speaker experiences with his lover can also be expressed as carnal elation the conduction of this is irreverent, and the speaker clearly says that these joys are profane. The laity of their love communicates that their love is of a very high religious status and to be able to achieve a high religious status there must be a form of high spiritual understanding. This is comparable to The Canonization. With “ by hymns, all shall approve/ Us canonized for love” The hyperbole of all shall approve emphasizes the scale of what is happening and us canonized for love recognizes the prominence of the love between the two individuals. “Let me love” is a line that has been repeated throughout the entire poem, this brings attention to the reader of the importance of the matter that his affair harms no one this form of love is irreverent and is a form of erotic euphoria. The canonization of an individual proves the high level of religious prestige which in turn proves spiritual enlightenment. This imagery is unexpected as irreligious acts are not usually connected with high religious status.

The powerful microcosmic physical relationship between two individuals impacts the macrocosmic spiritual relationship between the same individuals. This is demonstrated in The Valediction: Forbidding Mourning. The speaker is “inter-assured of the mind,/ Care less, eyes, lips and hands to miss” the cummulation brings attention that physical requirements are not imperatives in their relationship. This is then associated with their “two souls therefore, which are one” The juxtaposition of two and one brings awareness to the unification of two souls. The microcosmic physical relationship between the two individuals proves to be strong as the speaker expresses that love can survive without the physical need to be together. This relationship is influential to the macrocosmic spiritual level as their souls have been unified and the separation physically is only the expansion of something precious. This is similar to The Canonization. The poem starts off strong with “For God’s sake hold your tongue, and let me love” The blasphemy accentuates the seriousness of the situation, this poem is set in an era where blasphemy is frowned upon. Therefore the physical relationship between these individuals must be intense. This is then linked to “We two being one” the inclusive language brings attention to the reader the fact that their souls have been unified. This process is only viable when there is an intense relationship between two individuals physically. Both The Canonization and The Valediction: A Forbidding Mourning contain imagery that is not unforeseen as physical and spiritual relationships go hand in hand with one another.

Fear and love go hand in hand with each other. This is expressed in the Valediction: Forbidding Mourning. The “Moving of the earth brings harms and fears” the cummulation of harms and fears stresses that the movement of the earth brings emotions such as these this is then associated with the “trepidation of the spheres/ Though far greater is innocent” the speaker contradicts themselves. Movement of the spheres was praised and was great this was a great time of elation and is painless. Whereas the movement of the earth brings pain to individuals and the love between two people. This is comparable to the Canonization. “Love was peace, is now rage” the oxymoron with peace and rage exaggerates that rage can be hidden behind love. Love is a feeling that is usually associated with adoration, intimacy and attachment and rage is a feeling that is associated with annoyance, anger and resentment. This type of imagery is uncommon as these two feelings are not usually coupled together. This displays that John Donne’s metaphysical poetry are dependent on unusual imagery.

John Donne’s poetry exhibits the bizarre imagery needed within metaphysical poetry. Sexual ecstasy and its concealment behind religion, also that fear and love go hand in hand with one another, however the impact of love on both a microcosmic and a macrocosmic level is not unexpected. The Valediction: Forbidding Mourning and The Canonization both display bizarre and unexpected imagery.