Background Information

Make sure to answer all the questions marked in bold in your short response. 

George Herbert lived from 1593-1633 in England.  He studied at Cambridge University and was later elected Public Orator in 1620.  Herbert willingly spent the last three years of his life as a county parson, before he died in 1633 from the Black Plague.  His mother strongly influenced Herbert and instilled within him a strong devotion to the Church of England; she saw to it that each of her 10 children was well versed in the Bible.  As a result, most of Herbert's poetry revolves around religious themes.  Herbert often uses allegory and emblem throughout his poetry and directly alludes to biblical images and scripture.  As you read this poem, try to pick up on his allusions--both biblical and literary.  What allusions can you find? 

This poem is also significant because it is one of the earliest shape or concrete poems.  Shape poetry occurs when the image of the words on the page actually carries significance in reference to the subject of the poem.  Herbert often employed shape poetry to add additional meaning to his poem.  As you read this poem pay attention to the shape that the words take on the page.  What further significance do they add to the poem?  How does the shape further the theme of the poem?