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Printables
MENSA Education & Research Foundation

Death Be Not Proud

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Not dreadful, but mighty, this worksheet for “Divine Sonnet X” (aka “Death Be Not Proud”) models for individuals how to recognize John Donne’s argument for why Death should not be proud and how to recognize the sonnet structure and rhyme...
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Website
Luminarium

Luminarium: Anthology of English Literature

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
This site provides a selection of major authors and works associated with English literature, ranging from Geoffrey Chaucer to Sir Isaac Newton. Each author's page contains online texts of the author's works, essays about the author and...
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Website
Other

Cal Poly Univ.: Metaphysical Poetry & English Composition

For Teachers 9th - 10th
A wonderful essay by Steven Marx of Cal Poly University about teaching metaphysical poetry. Gives insight to the literary style and the poets Donne, Herbert, and Marvell.
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eBook
University of Toronto (Canada)

University of Toronto: Poetry of Henry Vaughan

For Students 9th - 10th
This site indexes a full-text of 11 of Henry Vaughan's poems. Also included is some biographical information.
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eBook
Bartleby

Bartleby.com: Henry Vaughan, the Retreat

For Students 9th - 10th
Bartleby provides the full text for the following poems: "The Retreat", "Peace", "The Timber", and "Friends Departed".
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Handout
Encyclopedia Britannica

Encyclopedia Britannica: Metaphysical Poet

For Students 9th - 10th
This is an encyclopedia artical about the 17th century metaphysical poets: John Donne, Henry Vaughan, Andrew Marvell, John Cleveland, Abraham Cowley, George Herbert and Richard Crashaw. It offers links to more informatation about each of...
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Handout
Other

Fu Jen Catholic University: Metaphysical Poetry

For Students 9th - 10th
This site from the Fu Jen University describes the term "metaphysical" and gives history and definition of the term "metaphysical poet" as coined by critic Samuel Johnson.
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eBook
Other

Poets' Corner: John Donne's Holy Sonnets

For Students 9th - 10th
There are nineteen of John Donne's sonnets at this page. There is no commentary or other explanatory information.
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Article
Other

Fu Jen University: Metaphysical Poetry

For Students 9th - 10th
This article by Dr. Marguerite Connor focuses on metaphysical poetry and the metaphysical poets. It includes a definition, the characteristics, a discussion of metaphycial poets and poetry, Neo-Platonism, platonic love, and T.S. Eliot's...
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Handout
University of Toronto (Canada)

University of Toronto: Selected Poetry of Andrew Marvell

For Students 9th - 10th
Get a taste of the metaphysical style by reading selected works of Andrew Marvell, noted metaphysical poet of the 17th century.
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Handout
Bartleby

Bartleby.com: Metaphysical Lyrics & Poems of the 17th Century.: Donne to Butler

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
An introduction to J.C. Herbert Grierson's book, Metaphysical Lyrics & Poems of the 17th Century. This provides a good explanation of metaphysical poetry as a type, and you can access the rest of the book which is a collection of the...
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Website
Academy of American Poets

Poets.org: John Donne

For Students 9th - 10th
This site, from the Academy of American Poets, features a detailed profile of John Donne as the founder of the Metaphysical Poets. Includes selected bibliography, related links, full text examples, and a portrait.
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eBook
Other

Poems for the People: The Retreat by Henry Vaughan

For Students 9th - 10th
This site provides the text of "The Retreat" by Henry Vaughan in its entirety.
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Website
Academy of American Poets

Poets.org: A Brief Guide to Metaphysical Poets

For Students 9th - 10th
Concise explanation of the term "metaphysical poetry." It's mainly a discussion of the seventeenth century poetic movement, but it also includes some information about John Donne and other specific poets.
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Unit Plan
Washington State University

Washington State University: American Authors: Notes on Anne Bradstreet

For Students 9th - 10th
Learn interesting facts about Anne Bradstreet (c. 1612-1672 CE) and her writing. The notes provide good background information to accompany reading and studying of her works.