Variety in the Religious Poetry of George Herbert

Abstract

This paper deals with George Herbert's (1593-1633) religious poetry. George Herbert is considered to be one of the most prominent religious poets ever. His collection of religious poetry, The Temple, has been influenced some poets. He utilizes a language so that he can illustrate the relationship between man and God. He deals with religion in this collection. However, a sort of variety can be seen in these poems. In this paper, three poems are selected from The Temple: "Easter Wing", "Virtue", and "The Pilgrimage". First, George Herbert is introduced. Moreover, what makes him different from Donne is argued. Then, the above-mentioned poems are discussed. Although all the three poems are religious, each poem covers one aspect of religion. Key words: George Herbert; Religious Poetry; Variety; "Easter Wing"; "Virtue"; "The Pilgrimage"