Title: From the School of Donne to the Metaphysical Poets: John Donne Studies in the Eighteenth Century

Abstract

Abstract: John Donne is generally believed to be long disparaged during the 18th century. This paper, however, argues that Donne was never completely pushed into oblivion in that century, but conversely his work inspired more in-depth studies and even debates among Donne schoars in two opposing camps. The Donne studies shifted its focus from “the School of Donne” to “the Metaphysical Poets”. The 18th century witnessed the phenomena of republication, quotation, adaptation and modification of Donne’s poems. Scholars conducted their research from varying perspectives, such as “the Mutuality Theory” and “the Ranking Theory,” and they even debated heatedly over the issues regarding Donne’s wit and versification. All this has left a great influence on Donne studies by later generations. Scholars such as Alexander Pope and Samuel Johnson are credited with the establishment of Donne’s aesthetic principles, which has been considered the first major theoretical accomplishment in the history of Donne criticism because it not only promoted the study of poetics in general, but specifically provided an insightful observation of Donne’s poetry and turned the Donne studies into a rigorous scholastic discipline.

Key words: John Donne Studies, eighteenth century, the School of Donne, the Metaphysical Poets

Yan Kui. Title: From the School of Donne to the Metaphysical Poets: John Donne Studies in the Eighteenth Century[J]. Foreign Literature Studies, 2019, 41(1): 166-176.

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