The Cavalier Poets in Puritan Period
While the metaphysical poets were influenced by John Donne, the cavalier poets drew inspiration from Ben Jonson. Jonson, known for his classical approach in both drama and poetry, emulated Horace by writing satires, elegies, epistles, and complimentary verses. Unlike Shakespeare's pastoral and popular songs, Jonson's lyrics were sophisticated, specific, and characterized by intellectual and emotional rationality. The term 'Cavalier' is somewhat misleading, as it originally referred to royalists during the Civil War, yet it has stuck to these poets. Many followers of Ben Jonson were not royalists, but the label persists. The distinction between Cavalier and Metaphysical poets is not absolute; poets like Carew, Suckling, and Lovelace were disciples of Donne, blurring the lines between the two groups. Both groups departed from the lengthy, old-fashioned works of Spenser, focusing instead on short poems and lyrics exploring themes of love and devotion to God. While Metaphysi…