How The Temple drew on The Complete English Poems
A documented line of influence: George Herbert demonstrably engaged John Donne’s work. The commentary below is Gröblé’s, verbatim from each work’s page.
The source
The Complete English Poems
John Donne · 1633
PoetsThe influenced
The Temple
George Herbert · 1633
PoetsRelevance
9/10
On The Temple’s page
- The metaphysical voice of The Temple is Donne's voice domesticated — speech-rhythm, blunt diction, the seizing conceit
- The connection was personal: Donne was Herbert's godfather and preached at his mother's funeral
- Read Donne first and you'll hear what Herbert inherited — the same wrestling intensity, now aimed at faith instead of love
On The Complete English Poems’s page
- Donne was Herbert's godfather — and delivered the funeral sermon for Herbert's mother
- More than family: Donne's metaphysical style — the speech-rhythm, the plain direct diction, the conceit that grabs you by the collar — is all over The Temple
- Herbert took Donne's restless, argumentative manner and turned it toward God