how-John-Donne-uses-conceit-in-his-poetry

John Donne uses conceit in his poetry so wisely,  as deep and careful study of Donne’s poetry shows that Donne’s use of conceits is unique and superb. Though some other very prominent poets of English Literature have made a very good use of conceits yet Donne’s implementation of conceits excels from all the other poets of using this genre. A definition of a conceit shows that a simile or comparison between two dissimilar things is a conceit.

The conceits may be brief or extended or elaborated one. Conceits are unusual and fantastic similes and comparisons which indicate similarity between dissimilar objects, but conceits emphasis the strong element of unlikeness and the violence or strain used in bringing together dissimilar objects. It can be well illustrated by an example that comparing the cheeks of the beloved to a rose is an image, while comparing the cheeks to a rose because. they have lost their colour and are bleeding from thorns, is a conceit.

It is one of the best traits of John Donne art of writing that he often makes use of such kind comparison makes use of such kind comparisons e.g. in his famous love poem of ‘A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning’, . he compares the lovers to the two legs of a compasses. In his another poem, “The Flea”, there is also a very sharp conceit: when he turns the flea as a marriage bed and marriage temple – because it has sucked the blood of his beloved. As it is well acknowledged that Donne always uses very learned conceits, which proves the fact that Donne is a man of learning and he has the knowledge of a wide range of subjects such as science, philosophy, mathematics, astronomy and exploration. After studying his poetry, one finds a touch of intellectuality and literary learning.

It can be termed as one of his great characteristics of his poetry that he always used far-fetched images against Elizabethan conventions boldly and openly; as “A Valediction of Weeping” employs images from a variety of sources. The lover’s tears are like precious coins because they bear the stamp of the beloved, the tears are “pregnant of thee”, it is really a complex image. On the next stage, he compares the tears of the beloved to the moon which shows the surprising and complex images.

Batter-my-Heart conceit-poem
Holy Poem of John Donne

Now, there is no doubt in saying that Donne’s love poems and religious poems consist of deep conceits. How deep this conceit is in the poem “Batter my Heart”, where he compares himself to a usurped town. At another place, he wants God to “ravish” him so that he may be “chaste”. In the poem of, “The Ecstasy”, we see that the lover’s souls are compared to two equal armies confronting and negotiating with each other.

Donne uses every conceit at the very right place where it is required and there is not any conceit which is out of place or irrelevant. Some critics have strongly criticised this point that Donne’s conceits are quite far-fetched and so they are quite out of place. But it is a fact that his images cannot be condemned for being far-fetched because they stimulate one to think and ponder. They give the readers an awareness of the new angles from which an experience can be viewed.

Donne is always of the view that there would not be any woman in the world both beautiful and loyal or true. This very point of view, he elaborates in the poem “Go and Catch a Falling Star”. But it is worthy to note here that Donne’s conceits are not pieces of decoration but they are functional and serve to illustrate and persuade the others: In “The Sun Rising”, the poet and his beloved symbolize the whole world and all its rulers. In simple words, it means to say that the sun which is shining on their small room will be warming the whole world. Though it is a far-fetched conceit yet we cannot deny its logicality. He illustrates it by the means of supremacy of love.

Poets use the conceits as the weapons to show their skill of learning and knowledge because these are always hidden in the inner thoughts of the poet which he wants to elaborate or to make the readers understand. As, far as the matter of Donne’s conceits is concerned, these are admired for their novelty and realism. Their intellectual tone is matchless and Donne is the only one who stands single in this field. His conceits are also charming and eye-catching. In “A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning”, we see that the separation between husband and wife is not troublesome for Donne because according to him it is like the movement of one leg of the compass while the other leg is fixed at the center. Here, he argues that the rotating side of the compass must return to the base and join the other side ultimately, as such there is no need to mourn.

There is no doubt in saying that to some extent John Donne conceits or images are full of complexity and obscurity because these bring together the opposites of life i.e., body and soul, earth and heaven, the bed of lovers and the universe, and life and death. The readers of the new generation and the people of the present age feel a difficulty in understanding these medieval images and the outclass fertility of Donne’s mind. Oftenly the readers are confused and bewildered due to his smooth movement of the mind. There are required a shrewd, deep and profound learning, knowledge and intellectuality to understand the hidden and deep meanings of Donne’s poetry.

There is no exaggeration in saying that a person of profound understanding may judge Donne’s clever conceits but a student or reader of ordinary caliber and average capability cannot follow or understand Donne’s far-fetched objects and concepts which are juxtaposed in conceits. In brief, we can say that there is no doubt that Donne’s imagery of conceits proves to be a hurdle in the way of the understanding of the common readers and the average students but one cannot deny the importance, integrity; significance, fame and popularity of his conceits, used in his poetry.

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR

94 COMMENTS

  1. Обзор BlackSprut: ключевые особенности
    Сервис BlackSprut привлекает интерес широкой аудитории. Что делает его уникальным?
    Этот проект предоставляет широкие функции для тех, кто им интересуется. Визуальная составляющая сайта отличается простотой, что делает платформу доступной без сложного обучения.
    Важно отметить, что этот ресурс обладает уникальными характеристиками, которые делают его особенным в определенной среде.
    Говоря о BlackSprut, стоит отметить, что определенная аудитория выражают неоднозначные взгляды. Многие подчеркивают его функциональность, другие же относятся к нему неоднозначно.
    Подводя итоги, BlackSprut остается темой дискуссий и удерживает внимание разных пользователей.
    Рабочее зеркало к БлэкСпрут – проверьте у нас
    Хотите узнать свежее зеркало на BlackSprut? Это можно сделать здесь.
    https://bs2best
    Иногда ресурс перемещается, поэтому приходится искать новое ссылку.
    Мы мониторим за изменениями чтобы предоставить новым зеркалом.
    Посмотрите рабочую версию сайта прямо сейчас!

  2. Self-harm leading to death is a complex issue that affects many families worldwide.
    It is often associated with mental health issues, such as anxiety, hopelessness, or substance abuse.
    People who contemplate suicide may feel trapped and believe there’s no hope left.
    how-to-kill-yourself.com
    Society needs to talk openly about this matter and offer a helping hand.
    Prevention can save lives, and reaching out is a crucial first step.
    If you or someone you know is struggling, don’t hesitate to get support.
    You are not without options, and there’s always hope.

  3. На этом сайте вы можете играть в обширной коллекцией игровых слотов.
    Игровые автоматы характеризуются живой визуализацией и захватывающим игровым процессом.
    Каждая игра даёт особые бонусные возможности, улучшающие шансы на успех.
    1xbet игровые автоматы
    Игра в игровые автоматы предназначена как новичков, так и опытных игроков.
    Вы можете играть бесплатно, после чего начать играть на реальные деньги.
    Попробуйте свои силы и окунитесь в захватывающий мир слотов.

  4. На этом сайте вы можете наслаждаться обширной коллекцией игровых автоматов.
    Игровые автоматы характеризуются яркой графикой и захватывающим игровым процессом.
    Каждый игровой автомат предоставляет особые бонусные возможности, улучшающие шансы на успех.
    one win
    Игра в игровые автоматы предназначена любителей азартных игр всех мастей.
    Вы можете играть бесплатно, и потом испытать азарт игры на реальные ставки.
    Попробуйте свои силы и окунитесь в захватывающий мир слотов.

  5. Платформа предлагает трудоустройства в разных регионах.
    Пользователям доступны множество позиций от разных организаций.
    Мы публикуем вакансии по разным направлениям.
    Полный рабочий день — решаете сами.
    Как стать киллером
    Интерфейс сайта удобен и адаптирован на широкую аудиторию.
    Регистрация займёт минимум времени.
    Нужна подработка? — начните прямо сейчас.

  6. On this site presents CD/radio/clock combos crafted by leading brands.
    You can find modern disc players with AM/FM radio and dual wake options.
    Each clock offer external audio inputs, USB ports, and backup batteries.
    This collection extends from affordable clocks to elite choices.
    best clock radio with bluetooth
    Each one boast sleep timers, auto-off timers, and digital displays.
    Shop the collection are available via Amazon links with free shipping.
    Select the perfect clock-radio-CD setup for bedroom everyday enjoyment.

  7. On this platform, you can find a great variety of online slots from leading developers.
    Users can experience traditional machines as well as modern video slots with vivid animation and interactive gameplay.
    Even if you’re new or a casino enthusiast, there’s a game that fits your style.
    casino games
    All slot machines are ready to play anytime and optimized for laptops and smartphones alike.
    All games run in your browser, so you can start playing instantly.
    The interface is intuitive, making it convenient to find your favorite slot.
    Sign up today, and dive into the excitement of spinning reels!

  8. Наличие страхового полиса во время путешествия — это обязательное условие для обеспечения безопасности отдыхающего.
    Документ гарантирует расходы на лечение в случае травмы за границей.
    Помимо этого, полис может обеспечивать оплату на возвращение домой.
    страховка за рубеж
    Ряд стран требуют предъявление страховки для посещения.
    Если нет страховки лечение могут обойтись дорого.
    Приобретение документа перед выездом

  13. ¡Hola estrategas de las apuestas!
    Recibe 12€ de dinero gratis sin necesidad de depósito en minutos. Un excelente incentivo para probar juegos nuevos. Solo por crear una cuenta.
    Nuevos spins gratis sin depГіsito sin tarjeta – juegos con bonos de bienvenida sin depósito.
    ¡Que tengas magníficas premios increíbles !

  43. Hey would you mind letting me know which hosting company you’re using?
    I’ve loaded your blog in 3 completely different
    browsers and I must say this blog loads a lot faster then most.
    Can you recommend a good hosting provider at a honest price?
    Cheers, I appreciate it!

    Stop by my web page; nordvpn coupons inspiresensation –
    ourl.in,

  57. magnificent issues altogether, you just received a new reader.

    What would you recommend about your submit that you just made a few
    days ago? Any sure?

    Review my web-site – Nordvpn coupons inspiresensation (t.co)

  60. ¡Hola apasionados del juego !
    RegГ­strate en un casino sin depГіsito y recibe tus 25 giros gratis al instante.
    Gira los carretes de tus juegos favoritos y gana premios reales sin gastar un centavo https://25girosgratissindeposito.xyz hoy mismo.
    ¡Que tengas magníficas rondas inolvidables !

  75. В данном ресурсе доступны актуальные промокоды для Melbet.
    Воспользуйтесь ими во время создания аккаунта в системе и получите максимальную награду при стартовом взносе.
    Плюс ко всему, доступны бонусы для текущих акций для лояльных участников.
    промокод на мелбет
    Обновляйте информацию в рубрике акций, и будьте в курсе эксклюзивные бонусы в рамках сервиса.
    Все промокоды тестируется на актуальность, и обеспечивает безопасность в процессе применения.

  94. Эта статья предлагает уникальную подборку занимательных фактов и необычных историй, которые вы, возможно, не знали. Мы постараемся вдохновить ваше воображение и разнообразить ваш кругозор, погружая вас в мир, полный интересных открытий. Читайте и открывайте для себя новое!
    Углубиться в тему – https://medalkoblog.ru/

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here