Conceit

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A conceit is a type of literary device, especially used in poetry, where two very different or unusual things are compared in a clever and imaginative way. It is a kind of extended metaphor that surprises the reader with how far apart the two things are, yet still makes sense in a creative way.

Main Features of a Conceit

  1. Unusual Comparison – It connects two things that are not usually related.
  2. Extended Metaphor – The comparison is explained in detail and may continue through a whole stanza or even the entire poem.
  3. Surprising and Clever – The comparison often seems strange at first but becomes meaningful as the poem develops.
  4. Used in Metaphysical Poetry – Poets like John Donne often used conceits in their work.

Famous Examples

  • In John Donne’s poem "A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning," he compares two lovers to the two legs of a compass, saying that though they may be apart, they are always connected.
  • In Andrew Marvell’s "To His Coy Mistress," the poet compares the speed of time to a “wingèd chariot hurrying near.”
  • In Shakespeare’s "Sonnet 130," the poet mocks traditional conceits by saying his mistress' eyes are "nothing like the sun," challenging the overused comparisons of love poetry.

Types of Conceits

  • Metaphysical Conceit – Found in 17th-century poetry, especially in the works of John Donne, using intellectual or philosophical ideas.
  • Petrarchan Conceit – Found in love poems, especially in Renaissance poetry, where lovers are compared to objects like stars, roses, or wounds.

Importance in Literature

A conceit makes poetry more imaginative and intellectually interesting. It helps readers think deeply and look at familiar emotions or objects in a new way. Conceits also show the poet’s creativity and ability to connect abstract ideas to real-world things.


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