by John Donne

John Donne
This site provides an overview of the life and works of the seventeenth-century metaphysical poet John Donne. Click on Life to read his biography and explore the Essays link to acquaint yourself with a variety of literary criticism devoted to Donne. Then write your own critique of one of the works in your textbook.

John Donne and His Followers
Donne is known for creating a style of poetry later coined "metaphysical," an intellectual form utilizing conceits or startling and unlikely comparisons. Visit this Virginia Tech site to learn more about John Donne and metaphysical poetry. Then try your hand at writing a metaphysical conceit. To get started, look at the world around you and try to make connections between seemingly dissimilar things.