Metaphysical Conceit
Metaphysical conceit is a literary device. The poet used this device for making his poetry is unique and extra-ordinary. According to the Oxford Dictionary, “ Metaphysical conceit is a fanciful and unusual image in which apparently dissimilar things are shown to have a relationship”. In other words, Conceit is a far-fetched and extended comparison between two dissimilar things.
According to Dr. Johnson (1709-1784) “A conceit is the most heterogeneous ideas are yoked by violence together”.
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History of Metaphysical Conceit
The term conceit first came to prominence in the 14th and 15th centuries in Renaissance literature. At that time the English poet Used the Petrarchan sonnet of the 14th lines. During that time conceit is used only as an elaborate and extended metaphor. Later, In the 17th century a school of poets known as the metaphysical school of poetry. The members of this school of poetry such as John Donne (1572-1631), Henry Vaughan (1621-1695), Andrew Marvell (1621-1678), and so on. Some of the metaphysical poets including John Donne are popularized to use this device.
Features of Metaphysical conceit
Metaphysical conceit stands for a device of literature that is used by the metaphysical school of poets in the 17th century it possesses some traits by which we can evaluate it as metaphysical conceit.
Extended Metaphor
The literary device metaphysical conceit consists of an extended metaphor. It differentiates between two dissimilar things.
Figurative language
Poets used figurative language to use metaphysical conceit.
