y]
George Herbert (1593–1633) is known as one of the greatest religious poets in English literature. He was not only a poet but also a priest in the Church of England. He is most famous for his 1633 collection of religious poems, The Temple. All his poems are deeply connected to God, faith, the soul, sin, repentance, and prayer. Herbert writes about the daily struggles of a believer and his deep love for God. Let us evaluate Herbert as a religious poet.
A Poet of Prayer and Devotion: Many of Herbert’s poems are written like prayers. He speaks directly to God. He opens his heart to God, just like a child talking to a father. For example, in “The Collar,” he feels the weight of his religious duties. He becomes angry and rebellious. He wants to leave his religious life. But in the end, he hears a soft voice calling him:
“Child!
And I replied, My Lord.”
This shows the close connection between God and man. Even when Herbert feels lost, he hears God’s voice and returns to faith. This is a clear sign of his deep devotion.
Spiritual Struggle: One of the most important themes in Herbert’s poetry is the spiritual struggle. He shows that even a religious person can feel angry, weak, sad, or even doubtful. In “The Collar,” he feels tired of following rules and living a strict life. He wants to be free as the road or loose as the wind. He asks:
“Shall I be still in suit?”
This means he is unhappy and tired. But his anger changes when he feels God’s gentle voice. This theme of spiritual struggle makes this poem very real.
Sin and Mercy: Herbert admits that humans are weak and sinful. But he also believes that God is full of mercy. In “Easter Wings,” he says that man lost everything because of sin and became “most poore”—spiritually weak and low. But with God’s help, he can rise again “as larks.” A lark is a bird that flies high and sings sweetly. Herbert wants to fly from his sin and suffering and be close to God. He writes:
“O let me rise
As larks, harmoniously”
This image shows that even after falling into sin, the soul can be lifted again by God’s grace.
Metaphysical Style and Conceits: As a religious poet, Herbert is deeply metaphysical. He uses strange and clever comparisons, called conceits, to explain spiritual things. For example, he compares his feelings of being trapped with a “cage” and his feelings of religious doubts with “rope of sands.” He says:
“Forsake thy cage,
Thy rope of sands,
Which petty thoughts have made.”
A rope of sand is something that looks like a rope but is weak and false. The poet is thinking that his faith is just a false “cage” he has built for himself from his own “thoughts.” This fine conceit wonderfully depicts the speaker’s spiritual struggle.
Images: Herbert also uses strong visual images to discuss religious themes. In “Easter Wings,” the shape of the poem looks like two pairs of wings. This matches the message of the poem: falling in sin and rising again through God. In “The Collar,” he uses images of “wine” and “corn” to show his life is empty of pleasure and God’s blessings. The image of the “collar” itself shows the speaker is fully controlled and restricted by his religious faith, and he is having spiritual conflict.
In fine, George Herbert is truly a religious poet. His poems are simple, emotional, and full of spiritual meaning. He shows us the struggles of being human, but he always returns to God’s love and forgiveness. Herbert’s use of conceits and vivid images makes his religious poems very interesting. That is why his poems are still loved by readers today.
Continue Reading
Subscribe to access the full content
Upgrade to Premium