Strengths and limitations of Cowley as a poet
Question: What are Cowley’s strengths and limitations as a poet?
Introduction
Doctor Samuel Johnson wrote a collection of biographies of fifty-two poets. Among them, the ”Life of Cowley” is the critical observation of the poet Abraham Cowley. In the biographical essay, Johnson has shown Cowley’s strengths and limitations.
The strength of Abraham Cowley
Abraham Cowley is a great genius in the history of English Literature particularly in the field of poetry.
A narrative decoration with conceits
We know that conceits mean a far-fetched comparison of two dissimilar things. But Cowley’s conceits are different from this traditional conceit. He has used the narrative decorated conceit in his writings. In Davideis, he has used such type of conceits.
Delight is description
Johnson has mentioned that Cowley had a unique style of description of pictures that brought a great delight to the mind of the readers. Cowley used implication instead of images and shown not what may be supposed to have been seen.
Abundant of Knowledge
Johnson asserts that Cowley’s choice of subject matter is the storehouse of Knowledge. His sentiments were his own made and it gave the readers a profound Knowledge about the once remote and applicable rushed into his mind excluding these Cowley has a lot of strength as a poet.
Limitation of Abraham Cowley
As a poet, Cowley has some limitations but it is natural because no man is perfect in this world.
Carrying out his thoughts
Not only Cowley but also all the writers of metaphysical schools is not except this fault. They have merged their own thoughts in their writings. Cowley’s thoughts to his last ramification by which he loses the grandeur of generality.
Pinder’s style
The Subject matter of Pinder’s style is noble and great. Cowley has used this style in many of his writings this style made his writings hard to understand to the readers.
Uncertainty and looseness of poetic meter
Cowley’s sentiments must be added to the uncertainty and looseness of his poetic meter. He used any verse of any length in any place in his writings. To except he has some minor faults such as lawless versification, irregularity of subject matters, etc.
Conclusion
In fine, we can say that according to Johnson including above mention limitation Abraham Cowley is a literary giant of the metaphysical school of poetry.
