Today we began with a presentation on poets John Donne and Andrew Marvell, and looked at the metaphysical qualities of three of Donne’s sexier poems (remember– the term “metaphysical poet” is coined by Samuel Johnson, who believed that these poets violently yoked together dissimilar images!) We discussed his use of conceits, specifically in “A Valediction Forbidding Mourning,” and looked for places where sensual and spiritual love blended together. The class ended on Marvell’s “On a Drop of Dew,” which we agreed was quite “deep.”
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