Different Styles of Rhyming PoemsThe Similarities Between Baroque & Metaphysical Poetry
During the 17th century, England faced a period of political turmoil. A civil war broke out. Supporters of the reigning king, Charles I, were known as Cavaliers, and fought supporters of parliament. After Charles I was executed, his supporters began writing poetry to exalt what they felt as their refined beliefs and sophisticated attitudes. Around the same time, metaphysical poetry arose out of an admiration for John Donne, England's first poet laureate, whose poems focused on philosophical and spiritual concerns. Following in Donne's footsteps, metaphysical poets focused on philosophy rather than courtly and political matters.
Cavalier poetry's main thematic concern is pleasure. Many poems advocate living in the moment and often are quite erotic in nature. In addition, because many Cavalier poets were aristocrats, Cavalier poetry focuses on the refined, cultured life that the aristocracy led. Metaphysical poetry is more spiritual than Cavalier poetry. Metaphysical poems often have religious themes. In addition, they focus on love as a union of souls rather than a strictly erotic pursuit.
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Cavalier poetry tends to use simple, straightforward language and meter to create graceful language. Metaphysical poetry uses metaphors, puns, paradoxes and...