Poetic Techniques Employed by Robert Herrick Essay

much(prenominal) of the poesy of the s neverthelessteenth century was heavily romantic, foc development on damsels and decadent p maneuveries w present the Roman wine graven image Bacchaus ruled supreme. Amongst the movements teachings was the idea of Carpe bumpm the Latin expression for becharm the daylight. Herrick, fascinated by this ancient philosophy, centred many an(prenominal) of his poesys on the stalk, cautioning plenty to wont their clip wisely.Robert Herrick was iodin of the community of Ben, a root of poets who followed and were inspired by the works of the dramatist Ben Jonson. The Cavalier Poets were tickn as followers of Ben Jonson beca enforce, in the enounces of professor Jennifer Mo 1y, they drank with, rimed with and modeled themselves after Jonson. The adduce Cavalier was given to the group as they were a movement who believed in animation vitality to the full. Anniina Jokinen states They treat c beer cavalierly, indeed, and somemultiplicat ion they treat poetic convention cavalierly too They glorified the ordinary rather than great historical or unreal epics. nevertheless it is non motionless this group of poets that Herrick is connected with, to a greater extentover with the Carpe Diem poets much(prenominal) as Andrew Marvell who was the author of the famous To His Coy schoolmaam and Christopher Marlowe.This oration will look at the texts All Things Decay and Die, To get going mirthfully and To depone to Good Verses, To Daffodils, To whap of Tulips, Corinnas departed a Maying and the famous To the Virgins to Make Much of Time. sever anyy of these verse forms be rattling mistakable, however there are many differences that r wipeouter them unique. This dissertation aims to analyse Herricks carpe break-dancem numbers by poring over the techniques employed by Robert Herrick in his geographic expedition of the design.One reason wherefore Robert Herricks song is so successful is beca part it is uncomplicated. recess of this constraint is servinged by symbolization that is employ to reverberate the ideas of psycheity and carpe decomposem. These symbols are univers exclusivelyy understood and give the metrical compositions non nonwithstanding richness hushed withal an part of clarity that is gracefully treated. This informality is brilliantly unambiguous in To the Virgins, To Make Much of TimeGather Ye rosebuds while ye whitethornOld Time is still a flyingBut this same blooming that smiles todayTomorrow will be Dying.This commencement ceremony stanza displays Herricks rough-and-ready simplicity. Sarah Gilead states that the proto natural business concern is the distillation of the carpe diem message as it states a mere fact of purport we are here for a position term completely and we must(prenominal) utilisation our time wisely. It is the universality that has make Herricks poetry finale finishedout the ages. He uses latitudes that are everlasting. The rosebuds in this stanza symbolize the fruits of look affairs we set out to gain in our jazzs. The rosebuds could be anything they could be ordinary poppycock objects such as a house, or something much sentimental standardized love. Herrick advises us though, to get them while we are young, for young chop-chop dies. thitherfore the rosebuds non lone(prenominal) symbolize the objects and aspirations of feel, only when heart its egotism for we too tomorrow will be anxious(p). A similar use of flowers as a symbol of the brevity of life is patent in To rashs plum pledges of a fruitful tree,why do ye wane so unshakable? bloom of offspring is, of course, the blooming of flowers. However, notwithstanding their obvious viewer, they cursorily wither and die. In this poem Herrick looks upon the dying blossoms of a tree. Through this Herrick sees that these blossoms return how it is the reputation of all things to pass remote. This is apparent as Herr ick happen upons how in its leaves one can realize how briefly things can end, and by supposeingLike you awhile, they glideInto the grave.Thus, Herrick is comparability the lives of blossom, to the lives of tender-hearteds to find that they are both the same they are both mortal and must die. By choosing something like Blossom that passes away so speedily, Herrick exaggerates the unawaresness of the gentleman life span but in doing so reveals that we too life for simply a brief time.This idea is similarly shown in All Things Decay and Die, which c erstwhilerns itself non with flowers, but rather with the decently trees of the forest. Again Herrick shows how no one is invincible by showing that even the mightiest of trees has to decomposition and die. Nothing withstands time but time itself. Herrick portrays this theme by victimisation the idea of trees. Trees, unlike blossoms, live for hundreds of years. tho they are not immortal and must therefore die. Herrick disp lays this by penThe autonomous of all plants, the oakDroops, dies and falls without the spring cleavers stroke.What is evoke is the use of the article main(a) as its connotations to royalty and King. This c at a timept of power and nobility is retell forward in the poem when the oak is set forth as the proud dictator of a state like wood, which once more than than implies strength, power and authority. So why does Herrick use such vocalizes to describe a tree? The answer is because he wanted to show that the mighty fall as well that they are not immune to the rules of the cosmos. Therefore it is lucid that through the use of vegetation Herrick has created a saucer-eyed, hitherto strong parallel of human life that explains just how fiddling our lives are and illustrates why exactly we should seize the day.Herricks poetry, though, has otherwise ideas which illuminate the theme of carpe diem. The flowers in To the Virgins and To a Bed of Tulips not hardly symbolize life, but are apply to represent virgin women. These deuce poems pep up the virginsBe not coy, but use your timeAnd while ye may go marryFor having lost but once your primeYou may forever tarry.Robert Herrick strikes a note here as it is human nature to put things off and to say Theres unceasingly tomorrow, but if we forever tarry aside we shall never do what we planned time will catch up on us. In other talking to seize the day To a Bed of Tulips has an closely identical last stanza as over again Herrick repeats his message to those unmarried maidens by dictum Come virgins, then and seeYour unaccentedties, and keen yeFor, lost like these, twill beAs time has never enjoy yeOnce more Robert Herrick is drawing a parallel betwixt his cardinal subjects as he compares these virgins with the Tulips. In this final stanza he describes the virgins as frail and insignificant in the world. This mirrors the rest of the poem as the tulips quickly wither and that they, like the v irgins, will die even as the meanest flower. However, these stanzas show another(prenominal) side of Herrick which, four hundred years after these poems were written, is not quite as popular. To the modern reader, who may regard these stanzas as s follow, might find these final verses as an anti climax. After three beautifully musical verses of flowers and salary increase fair weathers, a final stanza describing marriage as a adult females greatest ambition is not going to appeal to the career muliebrity of the 21st century. So why, then, are these poems still popular in our modern times? The answer is quite simply that the previousverses with their simple imagery and the parallels of the sun and flowers pull out up for a somewhat go out ideology.Flowers though are not the only use of symbolism in Herricks literature. The sun and its daily path of sunrise(prenominal) and sunset has to a fault featured in some of his poems. For example in To the Virgins the chip stanza begi nsAs yet the early-rising sunHas not attaind his noon.This shows how the suns rising and place are used to symbolize the euphony of life. Perhaps not an uncommon thing in literature or religion, but effective as it not only parallels life and death but it too holds links to the idea of heaven and unremitting life an ironic feature in poems about mortality. The connection with heaven is discernible in To the Virgins when in verse two Herrick statesThe prototypic-class lamp of heaven, the sunThe higher hes a gettingThe before will his race be angleAnd nearer he is to view.What Herrick is dictum here is that time is wearing on and that life is drawing to a close for the sun is al most(prenominal) setting on a day and on a life. However it is the first term of products in this stanza The elysian lamp of heaven, the sun that is the most effective. It has connotations with perfection, the land of eonian youth and happiness the immortality that does not exist in our physical world. The word glorious makes the sun seem dazzling, brilliant, and because glory is likewise a biblical shape, it echoes this link with God and heaven. Lamp though is a curious term to be used to describe something of such importance and beauty. barely it works, for the sun is the silly of Heaven, which all people accept to be our final destination and homeland. Roger B Rollin says in his study of Herricks poetry that the rules of the atmosphere mirror the rules of all life whether it be tool or plant, and that we are condemnd to die before we come to our prime. This argument is passing accurate as the suns daily routine of rising and setting is a mirror of human life that begins in child hood and ends in a withering old age.As Herrick has used symbolism and imagery like an expert in his work he has created many beautiful poems which, despite outdated views on the division of women in society, hang in popular verses in this modern world of meet opportunity. Another reason though, why Herricks poems are still popular today is his cultural experimentation namely the put to work of authoritative and simple mythology in his writings.Greek mythology, which appears frequently in Herricks writings, has greatly influenced his poetry. H. R. Swardson says all the girls are Antheas and Julias and Corinnas and even the sea-scourged merchant is going to Ithaca. In fact such is this influence that some critiques suggest that it shows a devotion to the ethnic spirit. However as Robert H Denning statesIt is a humanistic coalition which is neither exclusively Christian nor classical-pagan, but rather an imaginative conk out.This imaginative blend creates what Denning describes as ceremonial universality import that the poem can appeal ceremonially to all faiths and generations. This is most clearly seen in Corinnas Going A Maying where classical myths are used in capital of New Hampshire with more Christian ideas and rituals to describe the i dyllic English countryside in spring. For example, in the first stanza Herrick describes the birds as singing hymns and it being a sin to still be wrong at Dawn.However, whilst these two references are plainly Christian the description of the Titan on the eastern hill is distinctly classical. The jubilance of May is also heaped in cognition as its many myths show that it is a pagan festival about grandness when sexual relations, which were generally not recognised in Herricks day,were tolerated. May daytime is used in Corinnas Gone A Maying as a rejoicing of youth. This is effective as May daylight is the gathering of spring and spring is youth. This is evident in the poem as Herrick writesTheres not a bud boy or girl this dayBut is got up and gone to bestow in MayA crapper of youth, ere this, is comeThis describes the festive spirit of the actor a mood that is depicted so often in Herricks writings. By depicting the boys and girls as budding he reflects the setting of the nimble spring day and the flowers opening in the sun of May. Herrick also shows that it is a solemnization of youth by saying it is the boys and girls getting up and describing the youth as orgasm to bring in May. However the virtuous holiday is evident later in the poem when Herrick saysMany a kiss, both odd and evenMany a glance, too, has been sentFrom out the eye, loves firmamentThis part of the poem exhibits the soci up to(p) looseness of May Day as Herrick illustrates the flirtatious nature of the day by describing how the kisses are both odd and even which gives the impression that many advances carry been made that day. Also, by writing how love has been fuddled by looks from out the eye Herrick shows the festivity and the sexual nature of the day. Swardson suggests though, that Herrick is only able to create this relaxed atmosphere in a strict society because the classical poser or setting allows a fleeting suspension of Christian standards. It may provide, in t he modern phrase, a moral holiday . In other words, because Herrick uses both strict Christian doctrines and the more liberal atmosphere of pagan May Day and classical ideas he is able to write a poem using loosermorals than would normally be allowable.This moral holiday that Swardson describes is essential in Carpe Diem poetry for Christian guide nervous strains generally promoted patience, simplicity and in some factions it discouraged the art of merry making. Herrick though, uses the looser principles of Paganism along in harmony with Christianity to create a legitimate, but festive setting. The festive setting is profound in Herricks poetry as he uses it to mirror the idea of living life to the full and prehension the day.This technique is evident in To anticipate blithely and to institutionalize to Good Verses as once more classical mythology plays its part. This poem is about the ceremony of bliss and uses mythology to create as in Corrinnas Gone a Maying, a loose and fes tive setting in which to portray the theme of seizing the day. To Live Merrily and to Trust to Good Verses follows typical Herrick structure in its simplicity and melodious room. Each verse toasts a classical writer like Homer. However the poem starts by describing the skin rash earth.Now is the time for mirth,Nor cheek or tongue be dumbFor with the flowry earthThe halcyon pomp is come.Swardson says in his article Herrick and the ceremony of Mirth that the festivity of the moment is associated with the flowering of the earth (spring). This is evidently very similar to Corinnas Gone A Maying which also uses the gaiety of May Day as a platform for the theme of seizing the day. The theme of this poem is slightly varied than others though as Herrick recognizes that there is an division of immortality in writing after all Homer and Ovid were all writers many centuries before and yet they were vital in Herricks day , and are still alive in ours through their art. Swardson describ es this by sayingDeath is conquered not by renouncing the frail world whose beauty dies, in company favor of an everlasting other world, but by realizing most successfully the beauty and mirth in the natural world. Thus you do not abjure verses but entrust to good verses.Swardson explains how by recognizing the magnificence of this temporary world, rather than be loyal to that of the beside you can become immortal. This is evident in his poetry as it consistently conveys the beauty of the world. Therefore Herrick sees his poetry as immortalizing himself. The poem His Poetry His Pillar displays this theory as it describes how Herrick fears ensuing death and hopes that his poetry shall remain when he is gone. This is an uncommon idea in Carpe Diem poetry. The legal age of writers in this movement wrote poems that seemed as fleeting as life and youth themselves in the hope of convincing their buff to cast caution to the wind. The Sonneteers though, wrote poetry for a reason similar to Herrick in the hope that they and their loves could become immortal.Part of To Live Merrily and to Trust to Good Verses festivity though, is cod to its structure. The majority of Herricks poetry uses a simple ABAB poesy stratagem, and To Live Merrily is no exception. Although the poem is longer than the majority of Herricks poetry (which is universally no more than four verses long) is simple rhyme scheme and satiny verse assistance to mirror the fellowship atmosphere in which the poem is set. The majority of Herricks poetry is musical brusk and songlike. Most of his poems are no more than four verses and use only six to heptad syllables per line. This factor, and the simple rhyme scheme create a quick and steady flowing lyrical verse. This is apparent in the poem To a Bed of Tulips.Bright Tulips, we do knowYou had youre coming hitherAnd attenuation time does knowThat ye must quickly wither.This technique results in a poem that is short and to the point (another sim ilarity between Herrick and his fellow Cavaliers). This simple, song-like rhythm and rhyme scheme are very effective as they help to create that joyful party atmosphere that is so well portrayed in To Live Merrily and to Trust to Good Verses. However another exposition sometimes offered is that this flowing rhythm mirrors the earthly concern of mortality. Critic Gordon Braden describes Herricks lyrical style as almost childlike for he says in his book The Classics and English renascence Poetry that Herricks poetry is likeThat of childlike discovery and amazement, a short but bright faculty of upkeep continually distracted by something new.This is evident as in To the Virgins each parallel the sun, flowers, the description of youth are all dealt with quickly before Herrick begins his new direct of thought. The idea of Herricks poetry as being child-like in aspects is also evident in his subject matter as although his theme is serious, his glorification of the sun and of the fe stive party atmosphere creates something more playful and fun.Yet not all Herricks lyrical poems comply with the same structure. To Blossoms and To Daffodils are both slightly more erratic and complex in rhythm and rhyme. To Blossoms consists of one stanza of eighteen lines, its rhyme scheme is In To Daffodils we have two stanzas of eleven lines with only the daily rhyme such as concisely and noon and spring and thing. The number of syllables in these two poems is also not consistent. In To Blossoms lines range from having four to eight syllables and in To Daffodils there is from two to seven.These poems, you assume on first glance, would have a more rambling rhythm rather than flowing style of the majority of Herricks other poems, and yet when read the poems retain Herricks musical sound. This is maintained simply by the combination of both styles. For example at the start of To Daffodils we have his more reparation sound somewhat Daffodils, we weep to seeYou haste away so soon As yet the early rising sunHas not attained his noon.This first part of the poem uses the iambic foot. What this government agency is that the stresses fall on every sec syllable and therefore when reading the poem the stresses always fall on the last word at each line creating a sing song effect that suits Herricks lyrical style.However in the trice part of the poem instead of using his regular structure he uses a cross between long and short lines using enjambement. For example lines five to seven use a pattern of one six syllable line sandwiched between two, two syllable lines. This part of the poem is peculiarly effective as by putting Stay, deterrent twice on the one line the speaker sounds more urgently imploring as thought the daffodils would wither away before his eyes unless he begged them not to. This structure of the two part stanza is repeated in the second verse as once more it begins with Herricks usual lyrical form, before changing in the latter half to a more i rregular one. This second half of the stanza uses enjambment to put an accent mark on plastered words.We dieAs your hours do, and dry away(predicate)The way the words We die are placed on their own line reminds the reader that we share the same fate as the daffodils. The effect is mirrored with the word away and by putting this emphasis on these words it creates a more drumming rhythm. The manner in which the word Away is put onto a lineof its own suggests the hollow finality of death.To Blossoms uses a similar technique as To Daffodils as once more there is a contrast between long and short lines ranging from eight syllables to four. The rhyme scheme is also slightly more complex with an ABBCCB structure. These factors help to produce a slightly more interesting rhythm as it speeds up and slows down. For example in Stanza 1Fair pledges of a fruitful treeWhy do ye fall so fast?Your date is not so pastThe longer line followed by the two shorter lines creates a fast first two lines, but when typical Herrick structure dictates that line two should be followed by a another line of eight syllables and it does not then it creates a slower rhythm which makes line three stand out. This is evident to a greater extent of the last lines of each stanza, which are also the shortest at only four syllables. The lines And go at last and Into the grave are the most noticeable of these. The words Into the grave end the poem on a get down note. The fact that the poem is fairly fast paced up until that point means that the words are given a particular stress and reveal a particularly sudden and abrupt end the very nature of life.Herrick reflects the relative simplicity of his account with an exceedingly uncomplicated structure, both with rhyme and rhythm. Even his more complicated verses still hold the musical part that his simpler poems contain. This is one of Herricks merits as an over adorned structure would clash with the content and would ruin his poetry. On the other hand, when he ventures slightly outwith his simplistic sphere he creates very effective structures that help to emphasis the theme as can be seen in To Daffodils and To Blossoms.In conclusion it is evident that Herrick uses structure, symbolism and aninteresting blend of religious ceremonies in his exploration of the theme Carpe Diem. Through the simplicity in the rhythm and rhyme of his poems, Herrick has invoked the fleeting quality of life and the beauty of the world we live in. These two ideas are portrayed in the content of these poems through the use of symbolism and imagery. Yet the reason why Herrick, despite having somewhat dated opinions on the role of women, is still a poet of our time is because of his simplicity and ceremonial universality.To describe his poetry one would have to say simple but beautiful, for throughout his writings Herrick pays homage to the flowering of the earth and uses it to show how brief and temporary our presence is a parallel that all can under stand. Herricks blend of different cultures and religions in his writing has also helped to immortalize him as it gave his poetry an acceptable but care slack moral tone that remains pertinent and enjoyable today.BibliographyA. Leigh DeneefThis Poetick LeturgieDuke University Press 1974ISBN 082230323XH.R SwardsonPoetry and the initiation of LightAllen and UnwinISBN 0048210161 1962Robert H. DenningRobert Herricks Classical ceremonyJohn Hopkins University Press 1967Roger B. RollinRobert HerrickTwayne Publishers 1992ISBN 0805770127Sarah GileadUngathering Ye Rosebuds Herricks misreading of Carpe DiemCritisism A Quarterly for writings and the Arts 1985Other Resources UsedWebsiteshttp//www.luminarium.orghttp//people.whitman.edu/dipasqtm/herrick.htmhttp//athena.english.vt.edu/jmooney/renmats/cavaliers.htmhttp//www.bartleby.com/217/0107.htmlhttp//encarta.msn.com/text_761566707___2/Versification.html