ONLINE: John Donne (1572-1631), the greatest of the 17th-century metaphysical poets, and William Blake (1757-1827), a major English Romantic poet, were of different literary eras yet share striking similarities. Both poets explore spiritual themes, and both are known for an innovative use of language. Donne’s metaphysical conceits and Blake’s imagery and symbolism stand apart from their contemporaries. Donne’s poems are highly imaginative with unusual and sometimes shocking comparisons. For Blake, the world of sense was only a shadow of the eternal world. Donne is known for his love poems. Donne was religious and formally educated. Appointed dean of St. Paul’s Cathedral, Donne was a great preacher of his day. Blake, lacking much formal education, was deeply spiritual and a mystic who believed his poems were dictated by heavenly powers, but was not associated with the church and not a public figure. In his last decades, Blake, although happy, was misunderstood and obscure. | Facilitated discussion.
Max enrollment: 15.
