Metaphysical poetry

'Metaphysical poetry' is a literary term that refers to a kind of poetry having an abstract and ethereal style. In English literature, such poetry were dating from the 17th century in Britain. It used a variety of forms and structures, but employed similar styles. The term was first coined by John Dryden in 1693 when he described a poem by John Donne as affecting “the metaphysical.” It was later popularized by Samuel Johnson in 1781.

Poetry was described by Aristotle, in his “Poetics,” as describing emotions. This was compared with prose, which described facts and actions. Poetry does not have to adhere to such narrow constraints; in fact, descriptive poetry and epic poetry go against Aristotle's ideas and describe events or things. Metaphysical poetry, of all types, veers towards not only emotion, but emotional ideas of the abstract. They are not concerned with war or love, but with the world in a non-scientific sense.

Nearby pages
Metaphysics, Metastasio, Metastasis, Meteors, Methane, Methodists, Methylated Spirit