Comment on Dr. Johnson's attitude to the use of conceits in metaphysical poetry from your reading of The Life of Cowley. /What were the conceits of the metaphysical poets?

 Life of Cowley - Part B

• Comment on Dr. Johnson's attitude to the use of conceits in metaphysical poetry from your reading of The Life of Cowley. [NU. 2012]

/What were the conceits of the metaphysical poets?

A conceit is a fanciful metaphor, especially a highly elaborate or extended metaphor in which an unlikely, far-fetched, or strained comparison is made between two things. These conceits were drawn from all the spheres of knowledge. Thus Cowley drew his conceits from recesses of learning. Such far-fetched conceits were used not only by Donne but also by Cowley, Marvell, Vaughn and other metaphysical poets. Conceits have been widely used by the metaphysical poets, from Donne to Cowley. It is also a distinguishing feature of metaphysical poetry. 

In a metaphysical poem, conceits are instruments of definite in an argument. Donne sustains his imagery in order to prove something by analogy. Thus Dr. Johnson says that “the most heterogeneous ideas are yoked by violence together”. The conceits are drawn from a wide range of experience and learning. They are from various sources like mythology, geography, scholastic, philosophy, etc. The metaphysical poets used the conceits to serve their purpose. Wit is an important feature of metaphysical poetry. Metaphysical poetry has more music and much sentiment. Ordinary readers were not acquainted with this kind of style and use of conceits.