English 1022E Lecture Notes - Lecture 19: Jacob Burckhardt, Metaphysical Poets, Mirandola

• School: Western University
• Department: English
• Course: English 1022E
• Professor: David Bentley

Document Summary

Human beings have the capacity to look up toward the angels and become better (positive identity) or we can look down and become more animalistic in our natures (negative identity) Metaphysical poetry: inventive use of conceits, and by speculation about topics such as love or religion. Self-centred // no limits to the word i or me . Poetry that the writers attempted to develop a stylized, individual style: it"s about individualism, the great metaphysical deceit, personal style. Picodella mirandola: creation on the dignity of man (1486, jacob burckhardt. The discovery of the world and of people . To show their learning was their sole endeavour. The most heterogeneous ideas are yoked by violence together for illustration, comparison, and allusion. Their wish was only to say what they hoped had never been said before. samuel johnson. Adam and eve eating the forbidden fruit tainted the whole of human nature // Badness spread into the realm of human reason.