Complete Poetical Works of John Donne: Illustrated

• Book ID: 126204340
• Publisher: Delphi Classics
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 18 KB
• Category: Standards

✦ Synopsis

John Donne is now generally considered the most prominent member of what would later be termed the Metaphysical School of poetry - a phrase coined in 1781 by the critic Samuel Johnson. Previously the poet John Dryden had written of Donne in 1693 as affecting “the metaphysics, not only in his satires, but in his amorous verses, where nature only should reign; and perplexes the minds of the fair sex with nice speculations of philosophy, when he should engage their hearts, and entertain them with the softnesses of love.” Metaphysical poetry is concerned with abstract thought, imaginative conceits or philosophical subjects treated with levity and irony. Therefore, the metaphysical style of poetry is characterised by wit and intangible conceits.These poems often provide far-fetched or unusual similes or metaphors, which are then extended in an epigram format.

Donne published very little poetry in his lifetime, securing more fame as a preacher of sermons than a writer of verses. His earliest poems demonstrate an understanding of English society, which he often attacks with harsh criticism. It wasn’t until two years after Donne’s death in 1633, when this famous collection of his songs and sonnets was first published. Many of the poems are from his early days as a writer and the collection is particularly memorable for the erotic poems it contains. In these works Donne has been praised for his use of unconventional metaphors, with the most famous being employed to great comedic effect in 'The Flea'.

CONTENTS:

The Poetry Collections
SONGS AND SONNETS
ELEGIES
DIVINE POEMS
HOLY SONNETS
OTHER DIVINE POEMS
SATIRES
MARRIAGE SONGS
VERSE LETTERS
EPICEDES AND OBSEQUIES
EPIGRAMS
INFINITATI SACRUM
THE ANNIVERSARIES
LATIN POEMS
DOUBTFUL VERSES

The Poems
LIST OF POEMS IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER
LIST OF POEMS IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER

The Prose
BIATHANATOS
IGNATIUS HIS CONCLAVE
DEVOTIONS UPON EMERGENT OCCASIONS
PARADOXES
PROBLEMS

The Letters
LIST OF LETTERS

The Biographies
THE LIFE OF DR. JOHN DONNE by Izaak Walton
JOHN DONNE by Arthur Symons
JOHN DONNE by Robert Lynd

✦ Subjects

Эссе, очерк, этюд, набросок