120040 VO Literatures in English (2011S)

CONTENTS: The course will introduce students to the secular and religious poems by six English poets of the 17th century, commonly termed 'Metaphysical Poets': John Donne (1572-1631), George Herbert (1593-1633), Henry Vaughan (1621-1695), Richard Crashaw (c.1613-1649), Andrew Marvell (1621-1678) and Thomas Traherne (c.1637-1672). Starting from the definition of the fuzzy term 'metaphysical' as conventionally applied to these poets, the course will offer innovative interdisciplinary readings of selected poems, based on insights derived from spiritual theology, psychology and the arts. The life and works of these poets will be contextualized within the given cultural, religious and literary traditions. Common characteristics as well as the striking diversity of their themes and idiosyncracies of their style will be discussed. In particular, the perennial topic of man's quest for the direct 'experimental knowledge of God' (cognitio Dei experimentalis), which is central to the mystical poems of Herbert, Donne, Crashaw, Vaughan and Traherne, will be approached from a comparative and transdisciplinary perspective. Several of the profane love lyrics as well as a few famous erotic poems by Donne and Marvell will likewise be the focus of individual lecture units.