- definition of metaphysical poetry and conceits.
- analysis of conceits in the poems "To His Coy Mistress" and "The Flea" with regard to virginity, sexuality and seduction in poetry of the 17th century.
- comparison of Donne\'s and Marvell\'s Poetry.
- conclusion.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Metaphysical Poetry and Conceits
3. Virginity, Sexuality and Seduction in Conceits
3.1 The Wit of Conceit in „The Flea”
3.2 The Wit of Conceit in “To His Coy Mistress”
3.3 Similarities and Differences of Donne’s and Marvell’s Poetry
4. Conclusion
5. Bibliography
5.1 Works Cited
5.2 Appendix
Research Objectives and Themes
This paper examines how 17th-century metaphysical poets, specifically John Donne and Andrew Marvell, utilize intricate conceits to address themes of virginity, sexuality, and seduction, aiming to uncover the profound meanings hidden beneath their provocative literary arguments.
- Analysis of metaphysical poetry as a 17th-century literary movement.
- Definition and functional role of "conceits" in poetic argumentation.
- Comparative analysis of seduction techniques in "The Flea" and "To His Coy Mistress".
- The relationship between poet background and the thematic treatment of physical desire.
- Evaluation of irony and wit in the pursuit of carpe diem and sexual persuasion.
Excerpt from the Book
3.1 The Wit of Conceit in „The Flea”
The theme of “The Flea”, a typical seduction poem, is very provocative for the 17th century. The speaker woos his mistress very subtle by comparing their sexual intercourse with the intermingling of both his and her blood in the flea’s body. He opens his argumentation with the observation of a flea which has sucked blood from him and afterwards from her. He assures her, that the flea’s vampirism is just as little a disgrace as the premarital sex he wishes with her. She is not impressed at all, so he regrets her coyness and equates the intermingling with their marriage, although he is primarily interested in a sexual get-together and not in a wedding.
The speaker compassionates himself because he is not granted to enjoy the stitch and being swollen by the mistress’ blood like the flea. As she is still reluctant and only menaces to kill the flea, he steps up the pressure on her: He makes “the killing of the flea at once sacrilege, murder and suicide” (Nelly 83). If she kills the flea, not only the insect has to die but she also murders him and herself, because their vital blood is within this flea. “Sacrilege” (“The Flea” l. 18) raises the insect to a religious sign for their marriage and emphasises the shame related with its homicide.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: The introduction outlines the central research question regarding how metaphysical poets use profound imagery to address themes like seduction, and sets the methodology for analyzing two specific poems.
2. Metaphysical Poetry and Conceits: This chapter defines the historical and literary context of 17th-century metaphysical poetry, focusing on the defining characteristics of "conceits" and "strong-lined" verse.
3. Virginity, Sexuality and Seduction in Conceits: This core chapter explores how specific poems utilize conceits to challenge societal norms regarding virginity and desire.
3.1 The Wit of Conceit in „The Flea”: An analysis of how John Donne uses the image of a flea to create a witty, argumentative structure to persuade his mistress into sexual relations.
3.2 The Wit of Conceit in “To His Coy Mistress”: An examination of Andrew Marvell’s use of time and mortality as tools of persuasion in his carpe diem-themed poem.
3.3 Similarities and Differences of Donne’s and Marvell’s Poetry: A comparative study of the authors' distinct styles, backgrounds, and philosophical approaches to the themes of life, death, and seduction.
4. Conclusion: The conclusion synthesizes the findings, highlighting the enduring relevance of these metaphysical themes and the sophisticated mastery of the poets.
5. Bibliography: Contains the full list of secondary literature consulted for the paper.
Keywords
Metaphysical Poetry, John Donne, Andrew Marvell, Conceit, The Flea, To His Coy Mistress, Seduction, Virginity, Sexuality, Carpe Diem, Wit, 17th Century, Literature, Persuasion, Imagery.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the central focus of this research paper?
The paper explores how 17th-century metaphysical poets use complex imagery and wit to argue for seduction and discuss themes of sexuality and virginity.
Which specific poems are analyzed in this study?
The study provides an in-depth look at John Donne’s "The Flea" and Andrew Marvell’s "To His Coy Mistress".
What is the primary objective of the author?
The goal is to move beyond the surface themes of the poems to understand the profound metaphysical arguments and the rhetorical techniques the poets employ.
What scientific or literary method is applied?
The author uses a comparative literary analysis, incorporating secondary literature and historical context to decode the function of "conceits" in these specific works.
What does the main body cover?
It covers the definition of metaphysical poetry, detailed analyses of the two chosen poems, and a comparison of the distinct stylistic and philosophical approaches of Donne and Marvell.
What are the characterizing keywords of the work?
The paper is defined by terms like metaphysical poetry, conceit, seduction, wit, carpe diem, and the analysis of the specific works by Donne and Marvell.
How does the author interpret the "flea" image in Donne's poem?
The flea is interpreted as a religious and symbolic bridge that the speaker uses to minimize the moral weight of premarital sex by linking it to the mingling of blood.
In what way does Marvell’s approach to seduction differ from Donne’s?
While Donne often uses clever, logical traps to overcome resistance, Marvell uses a more "mock-serious" tone, employing a forceful memento mori approach to stress the urgency of fleeting time.
- Quote paper
- Daniela Schulze (Author), 2007, John Donne – “The Flea” and Andrew Marvell – “To His Coy Mistress”, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/86921
