Compare and Contrast between

John Donne and George Herbert

English poet and a cleric in the Church of England.

He is considered the pre-eminent representative of the metaphysical poets. 

Literary movement: Metaphysical poets

Poems: Death Be Not proud, Holy Sonnets The Flea, The Canonization, The Ecstasy more.

Born: January 22, 1572, London, United Kingdom

Died: March 31, 1631, London, United kingdom

John Donne

Born: April 3, 1593, Montgomery, United Kingdom

Died: March 1, 1633, Bemerton, United Kingdom

Education: Trinity College, Cambridge, Westminster School, University of Cambridge

Welsh-born English poet, orator and Anglican priest.

Herbert's poetry is associated with the writings of the metaphysical poets.

He is recognized as "a pivotal figure"

George Herbert

Similarities

George Herbert and John Donne lived at the same time

Both have been considered members of a

school of poetry.

“Metaphysical”

Attitude of humility toward God

Both poets are use highly memorable and unusual imagery.

 Though parents grudge, and you, w'are met,    And cloistered in these living walls of jet.    Though use make you apt to kill me,    Let not to that, self-murder added be,    And sacrilege, three sins in killing three.

Oh stay, three lives in one flea spare,Where we almost, nay more than married are. This flea is you and I, and thisOur mariage bed, and marriage temple is; 

The FleaJohn Donne

                    As nothing but               Thy pow'r doth cut.               Wherefore each part                  Of my hard heart                Meets in this frame                 To praise thy name.   That if I chance to hold my peace,These stones to praise thee may not cease.Oh, let thy blessed SACRIFICE be mine, And sanctify this ALTAR to be thine.

A broken ALTAR, Lord, thy servant rears,Made of a heart and cemented with tears;  Whose parts are as thy hand did frame;No workman's tool hath touch'd the same.

A HEART alone Is such a stone,

The AltarGeorge Herbert

Similar in meaning

Batter my heart, three-person'd GodJOHN DONNE

The CollarBY GEORGE HERBERT

Differences

Shape Poem

The tone The tone of Donne’s poems tends to be darker.

By contrast, Herbert’s poems tend to express a strong sense of assurance about God’s love.

Herbert’s speakers see evidence of God’s presence practically everywhere in the world. 

On the other hand, Donne’s speakers tend to imagine a more distant God whose presence and intervention cannot

at all be taken for granted.

The striking different in approaches, vocabulary and emotion.

Holy Sonnet 14BY JOHN DONNE

Donne expresses his doubts in intellectual terms, and answers them in the same way.

Doubts and Answer

Herbert occasionally explores his doubts in intellectual terms, but answers them with emotion.

Using Religious Terms as...

In some poems John Donne used religious terms as the title of the poem to ment sexuality.

George Herbert used religious titles to ment his love or belive for God.

Radicalism

The CanonizationJOHN DONNE

For God's sake hold your tongue, and let me love,         Or chide my palsy, or my gout,My five gray hairs, or ruined fortune flout,         With wealth your state, your mind with arts improve,                Take you a course, get you a place,                Observe his honor, or his grace,Or the king's real, or his stampèd face         Contemplate; what you will, approve,         So you will let me love.

Alas, alas, who's injured by my love?         What merchant's ships have my sighs drowned?Who says my tears have……………………………….

Herbert wrote for all classes reader or people. Because, Herbert's lines are simpler and shorter, and we

understand them easily.

Easy Understanding

Easter WingsGEORGE HERBERT

Lord, who createdst man in wealth and store,Though foolishly he lost the same,

 Decaying more and more, Till he became  Most poore:

Where Donne wrote for a limited readership. Because understanding Donne takes effort and concentration.

The Flea--- JOHN DONNE

Mark but this flea, and mark in this,   How little that which thou deniest me is;   It sucked me first, and now sucks thee,And in this flea our two bloods mingled be;   

The End

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