John Donnes Use of Wit Language and Metaphor in Poetry Essay

John Donnes Use of Wit Language and Metaphor in Poetry As discussed on a previous short essay question, John Donne is considered to be one of the greatest metaphysical poets of our time, even though he published only a small number of poems in his lifetime. The poems he did write were metaphorical and often humorus poems telling the tale of religious love and sex. Being a metaphysical poet he exhibited many characteristics of the metaphysical poets. He wrote with metaphysical wit, metaphysical conceit, metaphors, symbols and paradoxes. If these were some of the things that defined a metaphysical poet, then John Donne is a good example of one. I will use three of his poems, Holy Sonnet 14, The Flea, and Song to show how†¦show more content†¦On line 5 when Donne states I, like an unsurpt town toanother due, he is comparing himself to a town that the enemy has taken over. Many people would never think of making such a comparison, a man being similar to a town is not somethin g that people can really grasp on first sight, but I think what Donne was really saying was that because he was a sinner, and had done so many wrongs his body had been taken over by the devil, or the enemy. Because of this he was unable to be held unaccountable for his actions and did not really have a mind of his own, just as a town under enemy control would not have a choice in what they did or the rules that they passed. In line 11 he says Divorce me, untie, or break that knot again. Here he is saying that in order to punish him God must Divorce him. He is comparing his relationship with God as a marriage. This idea may not be as far off as comparing him to a town, but it is still an example of metaphysical conceit. Metaphors are evident all through Donnes writing, he uses symbols and paradoxes constantly, giving human characteristics to inhuman objects, letting one thing stand for another in order to allow the reader to better understand his feelings and thoughts on a subject. Donnes poem The Flea Donne uses the Flea as a metaphor throughout the entire poem. The poem is actually a sexualShow MoreRelatedMetaphysical Poetry By John Donne1590 Words   |  7 PagesFeras Mohammed Awaga Grade 11 B Metaphysical Poetry According to English language, when metaphysical is divided into two words ‘meta’ is defined as after and physical remains as it is. Thus metaphysical means after the physical. The definition above was according to English language, however according to poetry is†¦. 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