conceits

Conceit is a literary device characterized by an extended, developed metaphor that makes a surprising or elaborate point by linking otherwise unlike things through a continuous thread of imagery. In criticism, the term is often associated with metaphysical conceits, a distinctive type used by 17th‑century English poets who connect spiritual or philosophical ideas to everyday images through clever reasoning.

A conceit typically proceeds through argument, wit, and paradox. It emphasizes intellect as well as feeling, and may draw on scientific, mathematical, or philosophical ideas to support its claim. Rather than a single simile, a conceit sustains an elaborate chain of associations that runs through a passage or an entire poem, creating a unified intellectual image.

Example and form: in Donne’s poetry, a common conceit links intimate human experience to precise mechanical or cosmic ideas. In A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning, the lovers are compared to two legs of a compass: though one moves, the other remains fixed at the center, symbolizing an inseparable unity that transcends physical distance. This kind of image showcases ingenuity, reverberating across a sequence of lines.

Differences from related devices: a conceit differs from simple similes or allegory by maintaining the extended comparison as the governing principle of the work, rather than using a literal narrative or a straightforward moral. It aims for intellectual surprise as well as emotional resonance.

Modern usage: conceits persist in poetry and prose as bold, extended comparisons, though they are less central to literary practice than during the metaphysical period. The term conceit also appears in everyday language to denote an overly favorable opinion of oneself, a separate sense unrelated to the literary device.