Restoration
Restoration Overview
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Overview and Focus: Metaphysical Poetry
You’ve probably heard lame love poems or songs comparing love to a flower — probably a rose — but what about love being compared to…a compass? Not the Boy-Scout-finds-north compass, even, but one of those gizmos you used in math class to draw a good circle. Or what about the soul? You’ve probably heard it being compared to breath, light, spirit, and so on — but what about to a drop of dew? The genius of metaphysical poetry is in the exuberance and delight the poets take in these startling, delightfully science-geeky comparisons of unlike things. They took the idea of a simple metaphor (e.g., “My soul is a drop of dew”) and essentially put it on steroids to make what we call the “metaphysical conceit,” a kind of super-metaphor in which the poet explores what that might really mean, to compare the soul to a dewdrop or one’s love to a compass. |
Background Reading
NOTE: Readings are mandatory unless specifically marked “Optional.” They are given to help you understand the course material. If you’re having a hard time understanding something, the optional materials can often be very helpful to you. If you have suggestions for optional material you would like to see on this page, please email me at [email protected] with your suggestions. |
Reading Assignments
Outline or take textual notes on all textbook information that you are asked to read. I will give occasional open-note quizzes, so taking notes will definitely help your understanding. Please note that all reading assignments, unless otherwise specified, refer to your text, The Language of Literature.
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Literature Readings
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John Donne
Abraham Cowley
Andrew Marvell
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Discussion Questions
NOTE: Below are questions we will most likely be addressing in class. These are put here for your convenience and reflection. It would be helpful to you for you to review these questions and think about how you would answer them before we discuss these works together. |
Assorted Questions
NOTE: We will do these worksheets in class. They are provided here for your convenience and reflection. These two worksheets are designed to help you work through these two poems slowly, essentially line by line. That will, I hope, develop your “poetry muscle.” |
Renaissance Resources for the Media-Minded
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Optional Resources
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