English Literature

GRAY'S ELEGY WRITTEN IN A COUNTRY CHURCHYARD Introduction Gray's Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard is among the greatest and most popular poems in the English language. Despite certain flaws found by the critics and despite the difference of opinions this poem has continued to delight and enthrall the readers ever since it was written. With its deep human interest, its profundity and nobility of sentiment, the stateliness of its measure and its perfect style and diction it speaks to every one, for it expresses to perfection what every one feels. According to Douglas Bush it is the best known secular poem in the language in which a tender heart beats under the stiff brocade of style. Even Dr. Johnson, who was not very much pleased with Gray's Pindaric odes, acknowledges the beauty and greatness of the Elegy when he remarks: " The Churchyard abounds with images which find a mirror in every mind and with sentiments to which every bosom returns an echo." Popul...

ANDREW MARVELL'S TO HIS COY MISTRESS The Poet: The son of a priest , Andrew Marvell (1621-1678) was born in the rectory of Winestead near Hull in Yorkshire, England. He grew as the only son of the family. The family moved to Hull where three and half years old Andrew was admitted to the Grammar School which had strong connections with Cambridge. At twelve he proceeded to Cambridge got a B A degree and when he was working for his M A his mother and father died one after another. Receiving the news he hurried back to Hull and never returned to Cambridge to complete his studies. It is upon his poems that Marvell's literary reputation mainly rests. Yet very strangely, his poems were scarcely known to his contemporaries. Some of them were circulated in manuscripts form to friends, one among them was Milton. His poems were made available to the reading public in printed form some three years after his death. Marvell's poetical output was very meagre. He wrote some 40 poems in Eng...

JOHN DONNE'S LOVER'S INFINITENESS About the Poet: John Donne (1573-1631) was both a poet and a preacher. In his early youth he write secular poems which are witty, erudite, tender and cynical. They also reveal a profound insight into human nature. In his later years, he took to holy orders and became famous for his eloquent preaching. In his Divine Poems , he expresses his deep concern with theology. His poems are remarkable for their fusion of intellect and passion. He draws his images from his vast learning and his comparisons are ingenious and witty often drawn from philosophy, theology, geography, law, medicine etc. His poetry, popularly known as Metaphysical poetry, expresses a complex thought or emotion through images, known as metaphysical conceits, which at first seems far fetched and paradoxical. Donne's love poems were written before he was twenty five but they were published posthumously. Metaphysical Poetry -- Some Characteristics Even though Donne belongs to ...