A2 English Literature: CAD
27th November 2012
Aim: To understand and explain how the form of a shaped poem creates meaning
1. Starter Activity
What can you see in this picture?
What do you know about this
story?
Can you story board the four stages of the Fall?
“Unlike the learned and witty style of the work of his friend John Donne, George
Herbert’s style in his volume of religious poetry, The Temple, is deceptively simple and
graceful” (Norton Anthology of English Literature)
2. Easter Wings by George Herbert
Lord, who createdst man in wealth and store,
Though foolishly he lost the same,
Decaying more and more,
Till he became
Most poor;
With thee
O let me rise
As larks, harmoniously,
And sing this day thy victories:
Then shall the fall further the flight in me.
My tender age in sorrow did begin:
And still with sicknesses and shame
Thou didst so punish sin,
That I became
Most thin,
With thee
Let me combine,
And feel this day thy victory:
For, if I imp my wing on thine,
Affliction shall advance the flight in me.
George Herbert (1593 – 1633) was an Anglican priest who wrote poems about faith that
are marked by both deep theological truths and heart-felt devotion to Christ. One of his
more curious poems is a shaped poem called “Easter Wings” which, through words and
design (a pair of wings), covers the story of creation, the fall, spiritual death, the
purpose of suffering, and our redemption.
This poem by George Herbert is also known as an emblem poem, which takes the
shape of an emblem (religious picture) that were popular back then. Think of emblem
poems as a precursor to modern ‘concrete’ poetry. Emblems usually had an image, a
motto and a poem; Herbert combines all three.
The poem is made more poignant when the reader knows about Herbert’s personal life.
Long story short, Herbert was a well-known, well-educated Englishman guy who settled
down to be a country pastor for a tiny rural community. He threw himself into his work
passionately, and had a tremendous faith in God and overwhelming love for his
congregation. He was in chronic bad health, always sick and scrawny, eventually dying
from his various illnesses. Despite his perpetually deteriorating health, he kept on being
the best pastor he could be, writing and playing music as much as he could. Most of his
poetry was not about himself specifically, and this one poem is a poignant look into his
life and how he thought about himself. He died in 1633.
Easter Wings as it was first published in 1633
3. Close analysis

Annotate the references to the fall of Adam and Eve

Highlight the sections of the poem where the lines are shortest

Why do you think Herbert chose these lines to form the thinnest parts of
the wings?

Highlight references to human weakness

Can you link these references to what you know about Herbert’s life?

How does the speaker ‘become strong’ at the end of the poem?

How does the structure reflect this?
Challenge question:
Why is the fall often referred to as the fortunate fall?
How is this idea reflected in the language, structure and form of Herbert’s
poem?
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