What is the Metaphysical aspect(s) of John Donne, George Herbert, and Andrew Marvell?
From Shmoop Poetry Andrew Marvell belongs to a group commonly known as the “Metaphysical Poets.” The group includes some other poets we love: George Herbert, John Donne, and Richard Crashaw – all from the 1500s and 1600s. Their poems are famous for the surprising (and, at times, shocking and daring) use of language to explore BIG questions about love, sex, the earth, the universe, and the divine. Time holds a huge fascination for poets in Marvell’s era, and the phrase carpe diem (seize the day) has a special significance. “Life is short, so live it to the fullest,” is one way to describe the carpe diem mindset. The Metaphysical Poets celebrated imagination and wit. Wit often involves a lot of wordplay. Like “To His Coy Mistress,” their poems often take the form of an argument or a line of reasoning (similar to what a lawyer might use in court). Such arguments are often parodies of actual arguments. The Metaphysical Poets also would frequently use their work to critique aspects of socie
