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George Herbert

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George Herbert Famous memorial

Birth
Montgomery, Powys, Wales
Death
1 Mar 1633 (aged 39)
Bemerton, Wiltshire Unitary Authority, Wiltshire, England
Burial
Bemerton, Wiltshire Unitary Authority, Wiltshire, England Add to Map
Memorial ID
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Poet, Clergyman. Born into an upper-classed family, Herbert was both well educated and well positioned, with the opportunity to spend his life in courtly circles. Instead, he chose to become a country minister in Bemerton, a small village near Salisbury. Even though his ministry lasted for only a few years before he died an early death from consumption, "Holy Mr. Herbert" became widely known for his devotion to his parishioners. What was not known until after his death was that he was also an accomplished poet. His poetry was published posthumously, and today he is considered by some to have been the greatest of the English metaphysical poets, surpassing even John Donne. Unlike Donne, Herbert wrote only religious poetry. But his religious poetry shares the kind of intensity found in the poetry of Donne, Vaughan, and Marvell, and his use of metaphysical conceits was masterful. Among his best-known poems is "The Pulley," using the concept of a physical pulley to describe his relationship with God. Herbert experimented with various types of poetry, including the popular shaped verse, in which the printed poem was shaped to match its subject matter. Herbert's "The Altar" and "Easter Wings" are often used as examples of the best of shaped verse.
Poet, Clergyman. Born into an upper-classed family, Herbert was both well educated and well positioned, with the opportunity to spend his life in courtly circles. Instead, he chose to become a country minister in Bemerton, a small village near Salisbury. Even though his ministry lasted for only a few years before he died an early death from consumption, "Holy Mr. Herbert" became widely known for his devotion to his parishioners. What was not known until after his death was that he was also an accomplished poet. His poetry was published posthumously, and today he is considered by some to have been the greatest of the English metaphysical poets, surpassing even John Donne. Unlike Donne, Herbert wrote only religious poetry. But his religious poetry shares the kind of intensity found in the poetry of Donne, Vaughan, and Marvell, and his use of metaphysical conceits was masterful. Among his best-known poems is "The Pulley," using the concept of a physical pulley to describe his relationship with God. Herbert experimented with various types of poetry, including the popular shaped verse, in which the printed poem was shaped to match its subject matter. Herbert's "The Altar" and "Easter Wings" are often used as examples of the best of shaped verse.

Bio by: NatalieMaynor



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  • Maintained by: Find a Grave
  • Originally Created by: Mark McManus
  • Added: Oct 30, 2005
  • Find a Grave Memorial ID:
  • Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/12211600/george-herbert: accessed ), memorial page for George Herbert (3 Apr 1593–1 Mar 1633), Find a Grave Memorial ID 12211600, citing St Andrew Churchyard, Bemerton, Wiltshire Unitary Authority, Wiltshire, England; Maintained by Find a Grave.