Use of conceits

Question: Mention some conceits used by John Donne. Use of conceits

Introduction

John Donne (1572-1631) is one of the well-known poets in English literature. He is called ‘‘the father of metaphysical poetry’’. The metaphysical poem is a type of poem in which abstract ideas or themes are composed. The use of conceit is one of the important features of the metaphysical poem.

Click here: For notes on the selected poems of John Donne

Definition of Conceit: In short, conceit means far-fetch comparison between two other things.

John Donne’s conceits: There are many conceits in Donne’s poems. In the poem ‘‘The Good Morrow’’ (1633) there are several conceits which are given below:

1. The comparison between unaware lovers and breast-fed babies.
2. The comparison between the unconscious lovers and ‘‘seven sleepers’’ who slept two hundred years.
3. The comparison between the lover’s micro-world and the real world.
4. The comparison between the two hemispheres and two lovers.

Conclusion

Undoubtedly, this special technique develops the store of English poetry. John Donne is nothing but a master of this field.