The house of John Donne
John Donne
Donne was born between January 24 and June 19, 1572 in London, England, to a Catholic family. At the age of 12, he began his studies at Oxford where he remained for three years. He then continued his studies at Cambridge. Due to his Catholicism, he refused to take the Oath of Supremacy, which meant that he could not obtain a degree from either institution. Donne went through various professions and locations until he fell in love with Anne More whom he married in secret due to the objections of her father, a deed for which he was subsequently imprisoned. After release, he discovered himself unemployed and with a wife to support, so he managed to gain financial support from his wife's relatives until he found nobles who were willing to support him. During this time, he became quite depressed, but in spite of (or perhaps due to) this, he wrote many works. Having apparently changed his religion at some time before this, he eventually found employment writing for the Church of England. He died March 31, 1631, in London.
|
George Herbert
Herbert was born April 3, 1593, in Montgomery Castle, Wales. He was first educated at home, then at Westminster School, then Trinity College, and finally Cambridge, where he was elected orator of the university. After leaving Cambridge, he sought employment in the Church of England. He wrote various poems throughout his life. His works use some of the same words and patterns as Donne's works, but he would often arrange the lines of his poems into a specific shape which would tie into the meaning of the poem. He died on March 1, 1633, in Bemerton.
|
Henry Vaughan
Vaughan was born on April 17, 1622, in Llansantffraed, Wales. He was educated at Oxford until he had to return to home due to a civil war. He wrote religious works, secular works, and even works on nature. Until interest in the Metaphysical poets became widespread, his work was largely ignored. He died on April 23, 1695, in same town in which he was born.
|
Richard Crashaw
Crashaw was born in 1613 in London, England. He was the son of a Protestant minister. He went to school at Cambridge. He then sought employment within the Church of England. He later converted to Catholicism and quit his job within the church before it could fire him for heresy. He then moved to France to avoid persecution and was then sent to Rome with a recommendation from the queen after widespread recognition of his works. He died on Aug. 21, 1649, in the Papal States in Italy.
|