Week of 3/20-3/26 Metaphysical vs. Cavalier Poetry & Donne's Secular Poetry

This week we began reading and discussing works from the early seventeenth century. The first poem from this time period that caught my attention was George Herbert's "The Altar". "The Altar", in its format, differed from the all the other poems we have read this semester. It is an emblem poem; its shape a direct reflection of the motif of the poem. Many of the works we have read up to this point could not be produced in this way because of the restrictions of the printing process, but the invention of the printing press and its spread across Europe allowed for this new technique. I think it to be ingenius of the author to use the new technologies of the time to add more intricate detail to his work. With this technique and precise word placement, the author was able to add a level of underlying meaning to his work. Another poem that Ienjoyed was "The Flea" by John Donne. After reading the poem the first time I had no idea what was going on. I thought to myself why would this guy write a poem about a flea? But after reading it a couple of more times I saw that he was using this flea as a means to woo a woman. That is what you call "mad game". The poet was persistent at getting this woman to consent to his advances even after she killed the flea. I must say I have the utmost respect for a man who doesn't easily surrender when it seems all hope is gone.