How does Eliot refute Johnson’s remark on the poets whom he classified as metaphysical?
The Metaphysical Poets is a notable literary work by T. S. Eliot. A complete discussion of this literary work is given, which will help you enhance your literary skills and prepare for the exam. Read the Main texts, Key info, Summary, Themes, Characters, Literary devices, Quotations, Notes, and various study materials of The Metaphysical Poets.
Answer
How does Eliot refute Johnson’s remark on the poets whom he classified as metaphysical?
T.S. Eliot’s (1888-1965) essay “The Metaphysical Poets” (1921) talks about how poets like John Donne and Andrew Marvell wrote poetry. Their poetry is full of deep thoughts and feelings. However, Dr. Samuel Johnson (1709-84) criticized them. He says they joined very different ideas in a forced way. Eliot strongly disagrees with Johnson. He defends these poets. He shows that their unique style is actually what makes their poetry special. Let us look at points that explain how Eliot answers Johnson’s criticism.
Metaphysical Poets’ Style: Eliot first explains that the Metaphysical poets used surprising and complex comparisons in their poems. This is not a bad thing. This is a special intellectual power. He says,
“A thought to Donne was an experience.”
This means that thoughts and feelings were deeply connected for poets like Donne. Their poetry showed this connection through unusual but meaningful images.
Joining Thought and Feeling: Johnson criticized the Metaphysical poets for combining different ideas in a forced way. But Eliot says they were actually very good at mixing thought and feeling in their poems. He explains that their poetry had a,
“Fidelity to thought and feeling.”
This means that they stayed true to both their thoughts and emotions. This makes their work deep, rich and powerful.
Examples from Metaphysical Poetry: Eliot gives examples from the poems to show that their style worked well. In Donne’s poem A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning, he compares two lovers to a pair of compasses. Donne says,
“If they be two, they are two so
As stiff twin compasses are two;
Thy soul, the fixed foot, makes no show
To move, but doth, if the other do.”
Johnson might have thought this comparison was forged and strange, but Eliot says it beautifully shows how love and Geometry can connect. This example helps us see how theseUnlock this study guide now