Movements
Metaphysical Poetry
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A term coined by the critic Samuel Johnson to describe a loose group of 17th-century English poets whose work is characterised by inventive conceits and a spoken, argumentative quality rather than a purely lyrical one. Johnson's initial three named poets were Abraham Cowley, John Donne and John Cleveland; the group's central figures also include George Herbert, Henry Vaughan, Andrew Marvell and Richard Crashaw.
Facts
Disputed
Period, From (Year)Conventionally dated from John Donne's earliest verse, but the label was coined retrospectively by Samuel Johnson in 1779-81 and the canon it names is contested. Period, To (Year)No fixed closing date commands agreement; some scholars argue the poets are better read as Baroque poets alongside their European contemporaries rather than isolated as a uniquely English school. Cross-Tradition Connections
Associated Authors
Metaphysical Poetry carried zero live author edges before this lane.
Sources
1. Metaphysical Poets (Wikipedia)
Wikimedia FoundationLead section, Defining the canon sectionQuote, Lead section, Defining the canon section
The term Metaphysical poets was coined by the critic Samuel Johnson to describe a loose group of 17th-century English poets whose work was characterised by the inventive use of conceits, and by a greater emphasis on the spoken rather than lyrical quality of their verse. In his initial use of the term, Johnson quoted just three poets: Abraham Cowley, John Donne, and John Cleveland.
1. Metaphysical Poets (Wikipedia)
Wikimedia FoundationDefining the canon sectionQuote, Defining the canon section
there is no scholarly consensus regarding which English poets or poems fit within the Metaphysical genre
1. Metaphysical Poets (Wikipedia)
Wikimedia FoundationLead sectionQuote, Lead section
The term Metaphysical poets was coined by the critic Samuel Johnson to describe a loose group of 17th-century English poets whose work was characterised by the inventive use of conceits, and by a greater emphasis on the spoken rather than lyrical quality of their verse.
Wikipedia: John Donne
Wikimedia Foundation (Wikipedia)Associated Authors: John Donne, Biography section, on his standing among the metaphysical poetsQuote, Associated Authors: John Donne, Biography section, on his standing among the metaphysical poets
He is considered the preeminent representative of the metaphysical poets.
Open Questions (1 open question)
What are the start and end dates of the Metaphysical poets movement?
Sources identify the Metaphysical poets only by century, as a loose group of 17th-century English poets extending loosely through the Commonwealth period, without stating specific years marking the group's beginning or end.
What would resolve this A literary-historical source anchoring the movement to a specific founding publication (such as a first Donne manuscript circulation) or a closing event, rather than a century-level description.
Literary history and periodization scholarshipMetaphysical Poets (Wikipedia)
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