English Literature/English Literature Honors: Webquest for 17th Century Poetry
Objective:
• To understand the content and background for metaphysical and cavalier poetry by
reading literary criticism, history, and representative poetic works.
Instructions:
Read all instructions carefully! These steps will take you through the webquest.
1. Go to m-w.com and define two words: metaphysics and cavalier.
2. Go to the website http://www.luminarium.org/sevenlit/index.html. You will see a list of
poets, four topics underneath the picture, and an introduction at the top left side of the
page. This will be “Home” for the rest of the webquest.
3. Click on “Introduction.” This will take you to the Norton Anthology of Literature site,
and a page introducing the early 17th century. Skim this summary and answer the
following questions:
a. What are the dates of King James I’s rule of England? (first paragraph)
b. What is the subject of Paradise Lost? (second paragraph)
c. What are the dates of the Civil War and Revolution? (last paragraph)
4. Go back “Home.” Click on the topic “Metaphysical Poets.” You will see an image and
several names. Look at the painting in the middle and answer these questions:
a. Identify three objects in the painting.
b. Based on these objects, what do you think the metaphysical poets wrote about?
5. Click on “Introduction.” Read this page and answer the following questions:
a. What is a basic definition of “metaphysical poetry?”
b. Who was the first person to use the term “metaphysics”? What did he criticize
about metaphysical poetry?
c. Who further criticized the metaphysical poets in his book The Lives of the Poets?
d. What two conceits are presented in this introduction?
e. Who brought back the metaphysical poets in 1921? What did he like about these
poets?
6. Click the back arrow to return to the metaphysical poetry main page. Select one of the
poets’ names. When you click on that name, you will see a portrait of that person and a
list of subjects. Write down the name of the person you have selected.
7. Click on “Works” to take you to a list of poems. Select any poem that we have NOT read
in class. Read this poem and identify the following questions: (Note: Do your best to
understand the poem! Work on your own and use your critical reading skills before
asking someone else for help.)
a. The title and author
b. The speaker, purpose, and situation
c. The primary theme
d. At least 2 literary techniques (quote the examples)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Literary_technique
e. At least 3 unfamiliar words and their definitions. (Open a new browser window
and go to m-w.com to locate definitions.)
f. One memorable line or phrase
8. After you have read a poem, go back to the Luminarium “Home” page. Click on “The
Cavalier Poets.” You will see a page similar to the metaphysical poetry home page. Look
at the painting in the middle and answer these questions:
a. Describe the personality of the figure in the middle.
b. What tone do you think cavalier poetry will take?
9. Click on “Introduction.” Skim this introduction and answer the following questions:
a. What is “the common factor that binds the cavaliers together”?
b. How were they “cavalier”? (There are two ways, corresponding to two definitions
of the word.)
c. What ideal did they embrace?
d. What subjects did they avoid?
e. What is their main contribution to poetry? (See the last paragraph.)
10. Click the back arrow to return to the cavalier poetry main page. Select one of the poets’
names. When you click on that name, you will see a portrait of that person and a list of
subjects. Write down the name of the person you have selected.
11. Click on “Works” to take you to a list of poems. Select any poem that we have NOT read
in class. Read this poem and identify the following:
a. The title and author
b. The speaker, purpose, and situation
c. The primary theme
d. At least 2 literary techniques (quote the examples)
e. At least 3 unfamiliar words and their definitions. (Open a new browser window
and go to m-w.com to locate definitions.)
f. One memorable line or phrase
12. You are almost finished! Review your notes and be sure that you are able to answer the
following questions in discussion tomorrow:
o What are the characteristics of metaphysical poetry?
o Why did authors of the 17th century write metaphysical poetry?
o What are the characteristics of cavalier poetry?
o What are similarities and differences between metaphysical poetry and cavalier
poetry?
o How did politics and literature intersect in 17th century Britain?
o Which poetic style do you prefer? Why?
o Which poetic style is more relevant to today’s society?
Adapted from Hayes
www.millcreekhighschool.org/.../17th%20century%20webquest.doc