Five Metaphysical Poets

Bennett has illustrated the qualities of metaphysical poetry and the peculiarities of the individual poets.

Joan Bennett (Author)

9780521092388, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 3 January 1964

164 pages
22.9 x 15.2 x 1.3 cm, 0.4 kg

Mrs Bennett's Four Metaphysical Poets – Donne, Herbert, Vaughan, and Crashaw – was issued under a new title in 1964 with an additional chapter on Andrew Marvell. It is that text which is reprinted here. In her study Mrs Bennett has analysed, emphasised and illustrated the qualities of metaphysical poetry in general, and the peculiarities of the individual poets. She shows that, if we retain the word 'metaphysical' as a label for a poetic tradition, it is as appropriate to Marvell as it is to Vaughan, and more so than to Crashaw.

1. Introduction
2. John Donne 1571–1631
3. Donne's technical originality
4. George Herbert 1593–1633
5. Henry Vaughan 1622–1695
6. Richard Crashaw 1613?–1649
7. Andrew Marvell 1621–1678
8. Religious poetry: a postscript
Bibliographical note
Index.

Subject Areas: Literary studies: general [DSB]