Metaphysical poets, selected poems Contents
- Introduction
- Timeline
- Images
-
Author(s)
- Donne, John
- John Donne's early life
- John Donne - from Catholic to Protestant
- John Donne's marriage and its aftermath
- John Donne - The Reverend Dean
- 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
- John Donne: Poem analysis
- Aire and Angels
- A Hymn to God the Father
- A Hymn to God, my God, in my Sicknesse Show more
- A Nocturnall upon St. Lucies day Show more
- At the Round Earth's Imagin'd Corners
- A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning Show more
- 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 Show more
- Batter my heart Show more
- Death be not Proud Show more
- Elegie XIX: Going to Bed Show more
- Elegie XVI: On his Mistris
- Good Friday, 1613. Riding Westward Show more
- 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 Show more
- The Flea
- The Good-morrow Show more
- The Sunne Rising Show more
- This is my playes last scene Show more
- Twicknam Garden Show more
- What if this present
- George Herbert: Poem analysis
- Aaron
- Affliction I Show more
- Death Show more
- Discipline
- Easter Wings
- Jordan I
- Jordan II
- Life
- Love II
- Man
- Prayer I
- Redemption Show more
- The Church-floore
- The Collar Show more
- Vertue
- Richard Crashaw: Poem analysis
- Hymn in Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
- Hymn to St Teresa
- St Mary Magdalene, or the Weeper Show more
- To the Countesse of Denbigh
- Henry Vaughan: Poem analysis
- Ascension - Hymn Show more
- Man
- Regeneration Show more
- 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 Show more
- The Garden Show more
- The Mower Against Gardens Show more
- 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 Show more
- 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 Show more
- To a Lady that Desired I would Love her
- Henry King: Poem analysis
- Richard Lovelace: Poem analysis
- Abraham Cowley: Poem analysis
- Katherine Philips: Poem analysis
- John Cleveland: Poem analysis
- Themes and significant ideas
- Critical analysis
- Approaching exams and essays
- Resources and further reading
Themes in Hymn to St Teresa
Mystical perceptions
The obvious theme is the agony and ecstasy of love. Much more than in any poem of human love, Crashaw manages to convey here the possibility that agony and ecstasy are two sides of the same coin, and can be felt simultaneously. This is the mystical experience of the flaming arrow. So, with this theme, comes that of mystical perceptions of God, here not directly for the poet, but through his intense imaginative identification with Teresa.
Investigating Hymn to St Teresa
- If Crashaw is at a first remove from Teresa's experiences, we as readers are at a second remove
- Does the poet, through the power of his poetry, re-create for you some sense of his experiences, if not hers?
- What would you say is the core of the poet's own experience of Teresa?
Used for the seeking of direct spiritual encounter with God, usually through a life of self-denial and contemplation.
The Bible describes God as the unique supreme being, creator and ruler of the universe.
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Related material
- Texts
- Hymn to St Teresa
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