Metaphysical poets, selected poems Contents

Introduction
Timeline
Images
Author(s)
- Donne, John
- Herbert, George
- Crashaw, Richard
- Vaughan, Henry
- Marvell, Andrew
- King, Henry
- Lovelace, Richard
- Cowley, Abraham
- Philips, Katherine
- Cleveland, John
Who were the Metaphysicals?
The context of Metaphysical Poetry
- Social / political context
- Religious / philosophical context
  - The religious scene
  - Tudors to Stuarts
- Literary context: ideas and innovations
John Donne: Poem analysis
- Aire and Angels
- A Hymn to God the Father
- A Hymn to God, my God, in my Sicknesse
  - Synopsis of Hymn to God, my God
  - Commentary on Hymn to God, my God
  - Language and tone in Hymn to God, my God
  - Structure and versification in Hymn to God, my God
  - Imagery and symbolism in Hymn to God, my God
  - Themes in Hymn to God, my God
- A Nocturnall upon St. Lucies day
  - Synopsis of Nocturnall
  - Commentary on Nocturnall
  - Language and tone in Nocturnall
  - Structure and versification in Nocturnall
  - Imagery and symbolism in Nocturnall
  - Themes in Nocturnall
- At the Round Earth's Imagin'd Corners
- A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning
  - Synopsis of Valediction: Forbidding Mourning
  - Commentary on Valediction: Forbidding Mourning
  - Language and tone in Valediction: Forbidding Mourning
  - Structure and versification in Valediction: Forbidding Mourning
  - Imagery and symbolism in Valediction: Forbidding Mourning
  - Themes in Valediction: Forbidding Mourning
- A Valediction: of Weeping
  - Synopsis of Valediction: of Weeping
  - Commentary on Valediction: of Weeping
  - Language and tone in Valediction: of Weeping
  - Structure and versification in Valediction: of Weeping
  - Imagery and symbolism in Valediction: of Weeping
  - Themes in Valediction: of Weeping
- Batter my heart
  - Synopsis of Batter my heart
  - Commentary on Batter my heart
  - Language and tone in Batter my heart
  - Structure and versification in Batter my heart
  - Imagery and symbolism in Batter my heart
  - Themes in Batter my heart
- Death be not Proud
  - Synopsis of Death be not Proud
  - Commentary on Death be not Proud
  - Language and tone in Death be not Proud
  - Structure and versification in Death be not Proud
  - Imagery and symbolism in Death be not Proud
  - Themes in Death be not Proud
- Elegie XIX: Going to Bed
  - Synopsis of Going to Bed
  - Commentary on Going to Bed
  - Language and tone in Going to Bed
  - Structure and versification in Going to Bed
  - Imagery and symbolism in Going to Bed
    - More on imputed
  - Themes in Going to Bed
- Elegie XVI: On his Mistris
- Good Friday, 1613. Riding Westward
  - Synopsis of Good Friday, 1613
  - Commentary on Good Friday, 1613
  - Language and tone in Good Friday, 1613
  - Structure and versification in Good Friday, 1613
  - Imagery and symbolism in Good Friday, 1613
  - Themes in Good Friday, 1613
- Lovers' Infiniteness
- Oh my blacke Soule!
- Satyre III: 'On Religion'
- Show me Deare Christ
- Since She Whom I Lov'd
- Song: Goe, and catche a falling starre
- The Anniversarie
- The Dreame
- The Extasie
  - Synopsis of The Extasie
  - Commentary on The Extasie
    - More on Incarnation
  - Language and tone in The Extasie
  - Structure and versification in The Extasie
  - Imagery and symbolism in The Extasie
  - Themes in The Extasie
- The Flea
- The Good-morrow
  - Synopsis of The Good-morrow
  - Commentary on The Good-morrow
  - Language and tone in The Good-morrow
  - Structure and versification in The Good-morrow
  - Imagery and symbolism in The Good-morrow
  - Themes in The Good-morrow
- The Sunne Rising
  - Synopsis of The Sunne Rising
  - Commentary on The Sunne Rising
  - Language and tone in The Sunne Rising
  - Structure and versification in The Sunne Rising
  - Imagery and symbolism in The Sunne Rising
  - Themes in The Sunne Rising
- This is my playes last scene
  - More on Ignatian Meditation:
- Twicknam Garden
  - Synopsis of Twicknam Garden
  - Commentary on Twicknam Garden
  - Language and tone in Twicknam Garden
  - Structure and versification in Twicknam Garden
  - Imagery and symbolism in Twicknam Garden
  - Themes in Twicknam Garden
- What if this present
George Herbert: Poem analysis
- Aaron
- Affliction I
- Death
- Discipline
- Easter Wings
- Jordan I
- Jordan II
- Life
- Love II
- Man
- Prayer I
- Redemption
- The Church-floore
- The Collar
- Vertue
Richard Crashaw: Poem analysis
- Hymn in Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
- Hymn to St Teresa
- St Mary Magdalene, or the Weeper
- To the Countesse of Denbigh
Henry Vaughan: Poem analysis
- Ascension - Hymn
- Man
- Regeneration
- The Night
- The Retreate
- The Water-fall
Andrew Marvell: Poem analysis
- A Dialogue between Soul and Body
- On a Drop of Dew
- The Coronet
- The Definition of Love
- The Garden
- The Mower Against Gardens
- The Mower to the Glo-Worms
- The Mower's Song
- The Nymph Complaining for the Death of her Faun
- The Picture of Little T.C. in a Prospect of Flowers
- To his Coy Mistress
- Upon Appleton House, to my Lord Fairfax
Thomas Carew: Poem analysis
- An Elegie upon the Death of the Deane of Paul's Dr John Donne
- To a Lady that Desired I would Love her
Henry King: Poem analysis
- The Exequy
Richard Lovelace: Poem analysis
- To Althea, from Prison
- The Grasse-hopper: Ode
Abraham Cowley: Poem analysis
- Ode: Of Wit
Katherine Philips: Poem analysis
- To my Lucasia in defence of declared friendship
- To my Excellent Lucasia, on our Friendship
John Cleveland: Poem analysis
- Upon Phillis Walking in a Morning before Sun-rising
Themes and significant ideas
- Death as friend or foe
- Personal Sinfulness and Unworthiness
- The Loss of Innocence
- The Transience of Life
- Being Human
- Personal freedom
- Writing as poet or priest
Critical analysis
- Historical fortunes
- Close reading
- Contextual reading
Approaching exams and essays
- What makes a good English exam answer?
- What makes a good Metaphysical Poets exam answer?
- How to plan an essay
- Engaging with the text
Resources and further reading
- Booklist
- Website resources
- Other resources
- Worksheet downloads

Themes in Valediction: Forbidding Mourning

Separation

The obvious theme in A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning is that of Separation. As with all valediction poetry, separation is naturally a cause for grief, and therefore either consolation or fortitude are needed. Donne comes to this theme from another one: The nature and completeness of the lover's world. For him, this completeness has a sacred, even mystical, force. Hence

T'were a prophanation of our joyes
To tell the layetie our love.

where laity means those who are not part of the order of ‘priests', or those initiated into the religion of love. In the end, he has to admit that their love is so mysterious

That our selves know not what it is

Even so, Donne is human enough to know that beyond the metaphysics of such love, an actual attitude of courage, a stiff upper lip, is what is most helpful to him. It is ‘Thy firmnes' in the end that is likely to help him come home safe and sound, rather than her tears.

Investigating Valediction: Forbidding Mourning

Do you think Donne is in denial that the lovers are to be separated?
If so, what does he gain?

In literature, a sub-genre where the writer finds comfort in a time of grief.

That which belongs to the divine, or holy, or to God; as opposed to secular, which is that belonging to the material world of time.

Used for the seeking of direct spiritual encounter with God, usually through a life of self-denial and contemplation.

Commonly used of members of members of Christian churches who are not ordained.

A person whose role is to carry out religious functions.

The branch of knowledge which deals with issues of being and knowing.

Metaphysical poets, selected poems Contents

Themes in Valediction: Forbidding Mourning

Separation

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