Seeking God in Verse: Poetry of the 17th Century

The Spring 2010 reading group will be discussing the poetry of several of the major poets of the 17th century (sometimes called the “Metaphysical Poets”). Through their verse, these writers often communicated prayers, meditations, and theologies about God and his relationship with human beings. In reading these authors, we hope not only to consider their particular religious ideas but also to look closely at the specific ways in which those ideas are complimented and strengthened by the nature of the poetry itself. What can these poetic expressions about God teach us today about religion and faith through human creativity? We will be reading from the Penguin Classics collection, Metaphysical Poetry (2006). This book is available from Amazon.com.

For each meeting, participants should read the entire selection of that author’s work, while paying particular attention to the specific poems listed for each meeting. This group will be led by the Christian Study Center’s Graduate Assistant, Stephen Addcox.

January 29: John Donne (pp. 4-37)
• A Hymn to Christ, at the Author’s Last Going into Germany
• A Hymn to God the Father
• Hymn to God My God, in My Sickness

February 12: George Herbert – Is “Man ev’ry thing, and more”? (pp. 67-87)
• Redemption
• The Pearl
• Man*

February 26: John Milton (pp. 120-122) and Andrew Marvell (pp. 187-212)
• Milton: Time
• Milton: On His Having Arrived at the Age of Twenty-Three*
• Milton: On His Blindness*
• Marvell: The Garden

March 19: Richard Crashaw (pp. 136-156)
• Upon the Body of our Blessed Lord, Naked and Bloody
• Saint Mary Magdalene, or The Weeper

April 9: Henry Vaughn (pp. 213-232)
• Peace
• The Retreat
• Man

* Poem not in collection, will provide online version.