Controlling the Cosmos: Donne and Marvell's Love Poetry

The love poems of John Donne (1572-1631) and Andrew Marvell (1621-1678) give voice to besotted speakers who may be delightful or terrifying — or possibly both. Wildly unconventional and assertive — not to mention wickedly smooth-tongued and ardent — these poets’ forms, ideas, arguments and wit were startling and unparalleled in their time and remain arresting more than three centuries later.

Were their love poems refreshing declarations of love (and lust) or outlandish displays of intellectual acrobatics designed to shock and delight their readers? In this 2-hour session, we will discuss Donne’s The Sun Rising and Marvell’s To His Coy Mistress, poems that attempt to subdue that fiery star, the eye of heaven, even while they strive to bring their lovers to bed — or keep them there.

STUDY DETAILS:

• Single-session online study (on Zoom) led by Julie Sutherland
• Sunday 10 December 2.00-4.00 pm (UK)
• £30 to include introductory notes
• Both poems are freely available on the Poetry Foundation website: To His Coy Mistress and The Sun Rising, as well as being published in many anthologies.