Important and suggestive notes, summary and word notes on George Herbert's "Virtue" for WBSLST Xi-Xii.

 Virtue 

George Herbert ( 1593-1633) 

About the poet and the poem : 

●  Herbert was a poet, orator and Anglican priest of the church of England. 

● He was a devotional lyricist , often hailed as the ' saint of the metaphysical school'. 

● He composed poems in English, Latin and Greek.

● Herbert was born on 3rd April 1593 at Montgomary , wales.

● Henry Vaughan called him " a most glorious saint and seer".

● The poem published in 1633 in the collection of poem "The Temple : Sacred Poems and Private Ejaculations"  with a preface from Nicholas Ferrar.

● Herbert sent his poetry to his friend Nicholas Ferrar shortly before his death. 

● Ferrar published those poems in the mentioned collection of Herbert.

● The "Virtue" by Herbert is a simple didactic poem with a moral. 

● Herbert uses ABAB CBCB DBDB rhyme scheme in the poem .

● He wrote it in Iambic Tetrameter but the last line of each stanza is in Iambic Dimeter.

● It is a Carpedium poem . 

● It has 4 stanzas and 16 lines. 

Summary : 

Virtue" is a metaphysical poem by George Herbert, exploring the contrast between earthly beauty, which is temporary, and inner virtue, which is eternal. The poem consists of four stanzas, each reflecting on different beautiful aspects of nature and life.

The poet describes a beautiful, sweet day that eventually must end in night. Despite its charm, it is transient.

 He praises the lovely rose, vibrant and fresh in the morning but destined to wither by evening.

A spring, full of life and musical sounds, also will fade as time passes.

In contrast, a virtuous soul will never die. While all external beauties perish, inner goodness and moral purity are immortal and remain beyond death.

The short poem " Virtue" is a celebration of the innate spiritual quality that outweighes all the ephemeral objects of the worl.

Word notes: 

Bridall- union, marriage,   Skie- sky,   weep- lament , Fall - end , hue- colour, Angrie- reddish, Brave - defiant , Rash- thoughtless , Gazer- onlooker, Root- origin , Grave- death , Compacted- assorted, Onely- only, soul- element of virtue, turn to coal - perishes, chiefly - alone ,lives- remains eternal