![]() Additionally, the Bible provided a model of stylistic diversity for Herbert, especially the book of Psalms, which has long been described as an encyclopedia of poetic genres and voices. Herbert's structural artistry may have been influenced by the Greek Anthology, a collection of poems used by Renaissance poets as a reference for poetic practice. Herbert meticulously experimented with form and meter, rarely repeating rhyme schemes and often creating patterns with an intent to break or alter them. Herbert died of the disease on March 1, 1633, before the volume was put in print. Herbert then began working on his most famous work, The Temple: Sacred Poems and Private Ejaculations (1633).įalling ill with tuburculosis-a contagious bacterial disease of the lungs that had no cure and was easily spread-Herbert completed the manuscript of The Temple and sent it to a friend, Nicholas Ferrar, to ensure its publication. During the following two years, he revised many of his earlier poems and wrote A Priest to the Temple or, The Country Parson His Character, and Rule of Holy Life (1632), a prose discourse on Anglican pastoral practice. Herbert was appointed rector of Bremerton and ordained a priest in the Church of England in 1630. ![]() It included a funeral oration by John Donne. Published First Poetry A year later, Herbert published his first work, Memoriae matris sacrum (1627), a collection of poetry written in Latin on the death of his mother. While the date of Herbert's ordination is uncertain, it is known that he became a canon of Lincoln Cathedral in 1626. In 1625, James I was succeeded by his son Charles I, who soon faced opposition, as he often attempted to act without the consent of Parliament. He was a courtier at the court of James I from 1620 to 1625 and a member of parliament for Montgomery, Wales, from 1624 to 1625. At this time, Herbert was also involved in politics. ![]() Four years later, Herbert requested through the archbishop of Canterbury that the probationary period for his ordainment as a deacon be waived. Elected university orator in 1620, he assumed responsibility for speaking on occasions of state and composing official correspondence. In 1616, after earning bachelor's and master's degrees, Herbert was elected a fellow of Trinity College, a post that required him to take holy orders within seven years.Īt Cambridge, Herbert held several positions, including lecturer in rhetoric and deputy orator. Included in this letter were two poems, “My God, Where Is That Ancient Heat toward Thee” and “Sure, Lord, There Is Enough in Thee to Dry.” Throughout his years at Cambridge, Herbert wrote verse in both Latin and English, much of it remaining unpublished during his lifetime. By this time, England was ruled by Elizabeth's successor, James I of England, who had taken the throne in 1603 and established the Stuart line.ĭecided on Career as a Poet In 1610, Herbert wrote a letter to his mother in which he declared he would be a poet dedicated to celebrating God's glory. An excellent student in Greek and Latin, Herbert received one of three Westminster nominations to Trinity College at Cambridge University in 1609. In 1604, Herbert began attending the Westminster School in London. While at Oxford, Herbert's mother befriended John Donne, a writer whose metaphysical poetry would considerably influence Herbert's career as a poet. At the time, England was ruled by Queen Elizabeth I, who was overseeing both the beginnings of the British colonial empire as well as a golden age of drama, literature, and music. After the death of his father in 1596, Herbert's mother moved theįamily to Oxford so that she could supervise the education of her oldest son, Edward, who later became known for his philosophical writings. Works in Biographical and Historical ContextĮducated in England The fifth of ten children, George Herbert was born on April 3, 1593, into a family of political prominence in Montgomery, Wales. His best-known work, The Temple: Sacred Poems and Private Ejaculations (1633), is admired as a profound exploration of humanity's relationship with God. Although considered a metaphysical poet, alongside John Donne and Andrew Marvell, Herbert avoided secular love lyrics in favor of sincere, holy worship. George Herbert was a seventeenth-century English poet best known for writing intensely devotional verse using simple, direct speech. The Temple: Sacred Poems and Private Ejaculations (1633) Overview A Priest to the Temple or, The Country Parson His Character, and Rule of Holy Life (1632)
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