A Virtuous Soul

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Recommended: Theme of death in poetry

The poem Virtue, by George Herbert, is a wonderful work of writing that focuses on life, love, and death. George Herbert shared his knowledge through emotion, symbolism, imagery, and point of view, coming to the conclusion that everything decent the world offers must come to an end; however, a virtuous soul lives on forever.
George Herbert took the time to look at the beauty of the world and he enjoyed everything around him. He observed every intricate detail and truly appreciated the amazing nature before him. He wrote each and every word with such a positive perspective using uplifting vocabulary in the beginning of each stanza. He allowed others to observe his thoughts through literature and witness each sweet day sunrise and every sweet rose bloom.
After marveling on all of creation, Herbert writes about how everything, no matter how beautiful it is, must die. He starts of his poem with such an optimistic perspective, then following it up with a more realistic outlook on how we need to appreciate what we have before it’s gone. He made a point to share in his poem a more genuine conclusion at the end of each verse.
Sweet spring, full of sweet days and roses, A box where sweets compacted lie; My music shows ye have your closes, And all must die. (Lines 9-12)
He takes two beautiful, sweet days and roses, thing the Earth has to offer and describes them with such flowing words, then without sugar coating it, Herbert breaks that news that these too must die.
The author used symbolism in his writing by describing the sweet day and the rose. He uses these two seemingly different things to help the reader see his point of view of the Earth. By reading his portrayal of a sweet day, being brought forth with a positive tone and then en...

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...ves. (Lines 13-16)
Even though the whole world must come to an end, one with high morals will live forever. Looking at his past, Herbert served as an Anglican priest for quite some time in his life and also had a hand in writing some popular hymns for the church that are still being sung today. Seeing how involved this man was in spiritual work gives the reader of his poems insight into his religious point of view he used when writing.
Each poet’s goal is to teach their readers a lesson through their writing. George Herbert shared his knowledge through his emotion, symbolism, imagery, and point of view, ending on the idea that every good thing must come to an end. Much like the short span of a sweet day or a fragrant rose, Herbert died at a young age making his death confirmation that all good things must come to an end; but his virtuous soul will live on forever.

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