Tension In George Herbert's Poetry

George Hebert belongs to the metaphysical school of the seventeenth century. He is most famous for his devotional religious poems in The Temple, published in 1633. It once got prominence in his time not for his artistic skill, but his profound feeling toward religion. In the eighteenth century it nearly faded, but in the next century it regained its fame thanks to T. S. Eliot's contribution. And his original poetic skill also attracted the critics' attention gradually.This thesis attempts to apply the 'Tension' theory of New Criticism to the study of Herbert's poetic artistry. It aims at deploring the latent beauty in Herbert's poetry. The whole thesis consists of three chapters:Chapter One focuses on how Herbert shows tension in the realm of imagery and how he holds the homeliest and holiest things harmoniously together. He drew his imagery both from daily affairs and from religion. The sharp cleavage between secular and sacred things disappears in his poems. They are harmoniously combined and wittily arranged together.Chapter Two mainly analyzes the tension between complexity and clarity so as to find the internal and external beauty of his poetry. In his poetry, the most deep and profound religious thoughts are usually expressed in startling simplicity and directness.Chapter Three is devoted to studying the inner conflicts of the poet—the tension between his devotional and rebellious thoughts reflected in his poetry. It discusses not the tension of his writing skill but in his modes of thinking. His poetry is a long record of his agony of spirit. The glowing or the trembling state of mind, the exulting confidence or the racking doubts of religion, are ever combined naturally in The Temple.