The Life of Cowley Brief Questions

The Life of Cowley Brief Questions

“The most heterogeneous ideas are yoked by violence together.” Who wrote this, and why? (NU. 2012) ✪✪✪

Ans: Samuel Johnson composed this line to define the idea of conceit.

What is the purpose of the volume of “The Lives of the Poets”?

Ans: The purpose is to critically evaluate the works of the great English poets.

When did Cowley die?

Ans: 1667 at the Penthouse in Chester, at 49.

What was the name of the epic poem that Cowley attempted to write? (NU. 2016) ✪✪✪

Ans: “Davideis,” which he designed to have twelve books, but left it unfinished.

Who is Donne?

Ans: John Donne is known as the leader of the metaphysical school of poetry.

How does Cowley use love in his poetry?

Ans: Cowley’s love poems are philosophical.

What Pindaric odes did Cowley paraphrase? (NU. 2013) ✪✪✪

Ans: Olympick Ode and Nemaean Ode.

What does Cowley think of the Pindaric style?

Ans: Cowley thinks of the Pindaric style to be the highest and noblest kind of writing in verse. It can be adapted only to high and noble subjects.

How has Johnson described truth and reason?

Ans: According to Johnson, truth is always truth, and reason is always reason. They have an intrinsic and unalterable value.

What are the essential features of Cowley’s poetry?

Ans: Wit and curiosity.

What are the effects of metaphysical conceits?

Ans: The effects of metaphysical conceits are to startle and surprise.

What is an ode? 

Ans: An ode is an elaborate lyric poem.

What is Cowley’s idea of love? ✪✪✪

Ans: Cowley added more perplexities to love. Love also changes its character with the passage of time.

What does Cowley consider the Pindaric Odes?

Ans: Cowley considers Pindaric odes in the least of the lost inventions of antiquity.

Who are the metaphysical poets? (NU. 2013, 15) ✪✪✪

Ans: John Donne, George Herbert, Richard Crashaw, Andrew Marvell, and Henry Vaughan are the most prominent metaphysical poets.

What kind of odes did Cowley write? (NU. 2012, 17) ✪✪✪

Ans: Pindaric Odes.

Whom did Cowley follow in writing odes? (NU. 2018) ✪✪✪

Ans: Pinder.

Whom did Johnson follow to write “The Life of Cowley”? (NU. 2023)

Ans. Johnson followed Dryden.

What type of men were the metaphysical poets? (NU. 2018) ✪✪✪

Ans: Men of wit and conceit.

How does Cowley compare a lover to Manna? (NU. 2018)

Ans: Because the taste of it was like wafers made with honey.

What type of composition is The Life of Cowley? (NU. 2015, 19) ✪✪✪

Ans: The Life of Cowley is a biography and critical study of his character and works. 

What kind of poet was Cowley? (NU. 2019, 22) ✪✪✪

Ans: Metaphysical poet.

What do metaphysical conceits do? (NU. 2019)

Ans: Metaphysical conceits connect the reader’s sensory perceptions to abstract ideas.

Who is the father of criticism mentioned in the ‘Life of Cowley’? (NU. 2016, 20)  ✪✪✪

Ans: In “The Life of Cowley”, Aristotle is considered the father of criticism.

What is the name of the satire written by Cowley? (NU. 2014, 20, 22) ✪✪✪

Ans: The Puritan and Papist.

What type of work is ‘Love’s Riddle’? (NU. 2016) ✪✪✪

Ans: ‘Love’s Riddle’ is a pastoral comedy in blank verse.

What kind of allusions does Cowley use? (NU. 2014)

Ans: The allusions used by Cowley are not always to vulgar things. He offends by exaggeration as much as by diminution. Whatever he writes is always polluted with some conceits.

Who was the famous biographer of Samuel Johnson? (NU. 2013) ✪✪✪

Ans: James Boswell.

Who first coined the phrase “metaphysical poets”? (NU. 2017, 21) ✪✪✪

Ans: Dr. Samuel Johnson first coined the term ‘metaphysical poets’ in his work Lives of the Most Eminent English Poets.

What is Davideis? (NU. 2021) ✪✪✪

Ans: Davideis is an epic poem written in English. Cowley wrote it, taking stories of King David from the Bible.

What kind of writing is Cowley’s ‘The Guardian’? (NU. 2015, 21) ✪✪✪

Ans: Cowley’s ‘The Guardian’ is a comedy.