The Life of Cowley Main Text
From Samuel Johnson's Lives of the Poets series, published in 3 volumes between 1779 and 1781.
The life of Cowley, notwithstanding the penury of English biography, has been written by Dr. Sprat, an author whose pregnancy of imagination and elegance of language have deservedly set him high in the ranks of literature; but his zeal of friendship, or ambition of eloquence, has produced a funeral orati...
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The Life of Cowley Summary
Early Life and Love for Poetry: Abraham Cowley was born in 1618. His father was a grocer who died before he was born. Cowley was raised by his mother. She worked hard to give him a good education. She lived long enough to see her son become a famous poet. One day, Cowley found “The Faerie Queene” by Edmund Spenser in his mother’s room. He read it and felt the beauty of poetry. This moment made him...
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The Life of Cowley Key Facts
Title: The Life of Cowley
Author: Dr. Samuel Johnson
Publication Date: 1779–1781 (as part of Lives of the Most Eminent English Poets)
Point of View: Third-person, with critical commentary by the author
Key Notes
Metaphysical Poetry: Metaphysical poetry is a group of seventeenth‑century English poems. It is filled with sharp thought and daring image. Poets blend science, faith, love, and daily life...
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Notes (11)
- Cowley’s Strengths and Limitations as a Poet
- How Does Dr Johnson Compare Cowley and Milton as Poets?
- Why Can't Cowley's “Davideis” be Judged as an Epic?
- How does Dr. Johnson assess Cowley as a poet?
- Comment on Johnson's views of metaphysical poetry in his “The Life of Cowley.”
- Comment on Dr Johnson as a Critic and Biographer
- What are epic qualities found in “Davideis” written by Cowley?
- The Life of Cowley” as a Literary Criticism
- What Are the Features of Metaphysical Poetry?
- Dr. Johnson's Attitude to Using Conceits in Metaphysical Poetry
- What is your impression of Cowley's Pindarism?