大学英语课件John Donne.doc.pptVIP

A Metaphysical poet of the seventeenth century A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning Poetry of the Seventeenth Century The Cavaliers The Metaphysical poets The Cavalier “carpe diem”: to seize the day (抓住今天，及时行乐。花开堪折只须折。) The Cavalier poetry persuades the young lovers, especially the girls to accept the love in case they would regret when in old age, missing the time to enjoy love and life. Therefore, their poems were sometimes called persuasive poem(劝诫诗)。 Poems of the Cavaliers Gather ye rose-buds while ye may, Old Time is still a-flying: And this same flower that smiles to-day, To-morrow will be dying. Poems of the Cavaliers Then be not coy, but use your time; and while ye may, go marry: For having lost but once your prime, you may for ever tarry. (Robert Herrick: Counsel to Girls) Poems of the Cavaliers “An hundred years should go to praise Thine eyes, and on thy forehead gaze; Two hundred to adore your breast, But thirty thousand to the rest; An age at least to every part, And the last age should show your heart.” Poems of the Cavaliers “Thy beauty shall no more be found, Nor, in thy marble vault, shall try That long-preserved virginity, And your quaint honor turn to dust, And into ashed all my lust…” (Andrew Marvell: To His Coy Mistress) The social background of the Cavaliers The Cavaliers were royalists, lyrical poets, and dealt chiefly with the theme of love and “carpe diem”. Their poetry reflected the extravagance and moral looseness of the courtly life. The metaphysical poetry Origin: The Metaphysical poet was firstly used (disparagingly) by Dr. Johnson. He identifies them as a “race of writers” who display their learning, use far-fetched comparisons, and lack feeling, among whom John Done was regarded as the founder. The metaphysical poetry The main themes of the Metaphysical poets are love, death and religion. The characteristics of a metaphysical poem