Alfred001
04-12-2015, 02:34 PM
I'm studying English metaphysical poetry and I'm confused about some terminology.
1. The term conceit I know can refer to petrarcan conceit or metaphysical conceit, but do the words conceit and concetto refer to the same thing?
On a website I saw (though no explanation was given) them talk as if a distinction exists between baroque concetto and English metaphysical conceit. I was under the impression that they are one and the same.
2. Most resources I find describe metaphysical conceit as being basically a far fetched metaphor, however this one book I have takes puns to be an example of conceit as well.
For ex. this passage from Romeo and Juliet is quoted as an example:
Hath Romeo slain himself? Say thou but “ay,”
And that bare vowel I shall poison more
Than the death-darting eye of cockatrice.
I am not I if there be such an I,
Or those eyes shut that makes thee answer “ay.”
If he be slain, say “ay,” or if not, “no.”
There's no metaphor there, just wordplay. So what's the deal?
1. The term conceit I know can refer to petrarcan conceit or metaphysical conceit, but do the words conceit and concetto refer to the same thing?
On a website I saw (though no explanation was given) them talk as if a distinction exists between baroque concetto and English metaphysical conceit. I was under the impression that they are one and the same.
2. Most resources I find describe metaphysical conceit as being basically a far fetched metaphor, however this one book I have takes puns to be an example of conceit as well.
For ex. this passage from Romeo and Juliet is quoted as an example:
Hath Romeo slain himself? Say thou but “ay,”
And that bare vowel I shall poison more
Than the death-darting eye of cockatrice.
I am not I if there be such an I,
Or those eyes shut that makes thee answer “ay.”
If he be slain, say “ay,” or if not, “no.”
There's no metaphor there, just wordplay. So what's the deal?