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Donne, John

(Encyclopedia) Donne, JohnDonne, Johndŭn, dŏn [key], 1572–1631, English poet and divine. He is considered the greatest of the metaphysical poets. All of Donne's verse—his love sonnets and his…

Sponde, Jean de

(Encyclopedia) Sponde, Jean deSponde, Jean dezhäN də spôNd [key], 1557–95, French poet and humanist. He held various posts in the court of Henry IV but died destitute because of his reckless nature.…

Carew, Thomas

(Encyclopedia) Carew, Thomas, 1595?–1639?, English author, one of the Cavalier poets. Educated at Merton College, Oxford, he had a short diplomatic career on the Continent, then returned to England…

Cavalier poets

(Encyclopedia) Cavalier poets, a group of English poets associated with Charles I and his exiled son. Most of their work was done between c.1637 and 1660. Their poetry embodied the life and culture…

Walton, Izaak

(Encyclopedia) Walton, Izaak, 1593–1683, English writer. He wrote one of the most famous books in the English language, The Compleat Angler; or, the Contemplative Man's Recreation. The first edition…

conceit

(Encyclopedia) conceit, in literature, fanciful or unusual image in which apparently dissimilar things are shown to have a relationship. The Elizabethan poets were fond of Petrarchan conceits, which…

Alleyn, Edward

(Encyclopedia) Alleyn, EdwardAlleyn, Edwardălˈĭn [key], 1566–1626, English actor. He was the foremost member of the Admiral's Men, joining the group c.1587, and was the only rival of Richard Burbage…

metaphysical poets

(Encyclopedia) metaphysical poets, name given to a group of English lyric poets of the 17th cent. The term was first used by Samuel Johnson (1744). The hallmark of their poetry is the metaphysical…

Ellesmere, Thomas Egerton, Baron

(Encyclopedia) Ellesmere, Thomas Egerton, Baron, 1540?–1617, jurist and statesman. A distinguished early career at law brought him appointment (1581) as solicitor general, and he became a favorite…

Cowley, Abraham

(Encyclopedia) Cowley, AbrahamCowley, Abrahamk&oomacr;ˈlē, kouˈ– [key], 1618–67, one of the English metaphysical poets. He published his first volume of verse, Poetical Blossoms (1633), when he…