The Collar Flashcards
What imagery is used in the phrase ‘I struck the board’?
The phrase employs dramatic imagery that conveys frustration or defiance. The verb ‘struck’ indicates an emotional outburst, while ‘board’ symbolizes restraint or confinement.
What does the exclamatory phrase ‘No more’ signify?
‘No more’ signals rebellion and an assertion of personal autonomy, indicating an abrupt refusal to conform to imposed rules.
What does ‘I will abroad’ express?
‘I will abroad’ demonstrates the speaker’s desire for escape and movement away from constraint.
What is emphasized by the repetition of ‘free’ in ‘My lines and life are free; free as the road’?
The repetition emphasizes the speaker’s desire for independence and liberation, with ‘free as the road’ symbolizing an open, unbounded path.
What does the simile ‘Loose as the wind’ suggest?
‘Loose as the wind’ employs looseness as a metaphor for freedom, while ‘as large as store’ suggests abundance and opportunity.
What does the rhetorical question ‘Shall I be still in suit?’ imply?
It suggests the speaker’s inner turmoil about his role as a servant of God or a man under divine obligation.
What does the metaphor of ‘harvest’ juxtaposed with ‘thorn’ represent?
It suggests disappointment or the lack of spiritual reward, contrasting the idea of fulfillment with pain and suffering.
What does ‘let me blood, and not restore’ imply?
‘Let me blood’ refers to the physical and emotional toll endured, while ‘not restore’ suggests a lack of healing.
What does ‘What I have lost with cordial fruit?’ question?
It questions whether there is any return for the suffering endured, seeking restoration or compensation for emotional sacrifices.
What do ‘wine’ and ‘corn’ symbolize in the context?
‘Wine’ and ‘corn’ symbolize prosperity and spiritual nourishment, which the speaker feels he has lost.
What does ‘tears did drown it’ emphasize?
It emphasizes emotional excess, with tears contrasting the dry or barren state of ‘wine’ and ‘corn’.
What does the question ‘Is the year only lost to me?’ suggest?
It suggests a temporal dimension to suffering, indicating that an entire season has passed in frustration and loss.
What do ‘bays’ symbolize in ‘Have I no bays to crown it?’
‘Bays’ symbolize victory or accomplishment, and their absence highlights the speaker’s frustration at not achieving success.
What do ‘flowers’ and ‘garlands’ typically symbolize?
‘Flowers’ and ‘garlands’ symbolize beauty and celebration, while ‘blasted’ signifies decay and destruction.
What does the phrase ‘Not so, my heart’ represent?
It represents an internal rebuttal, where the speaker attempts to reassure himself.
What does ‘fruit’ symbolize in the context of the poem?
‘Fruit’ symbolizes spiritual sustenance, contrasting with ‘thorn’ and indicating potential fulfillment.
What does the shift in tone in line 14 signify?
It marks a turning point where the speaker reaffirms his faith and moves from despair to hope.
What does ‘thou hast hands’ imply?
It implies a commanding tone instructing the heart to act and recover its lost vitality.
What does ‘sigh-blown age’ metaphorically tie together?
It ties the speaker’s emotional state of sighing to the aging process, indicating weariness.
What does ‘double pleasures’ refer to?
‘Double pleasures’ refers to spiritual rewards that exceed worldly enjoyment.
What does ‘cold dispute’ suggest?
‘Cold dispute’ refers to lifeless intellectual arguments that are unproductive.
What does the imperative ‘forsake thy cage’ symbolize?
It symbolizes breaking free from spiritual confinement imposed by rules and expectations.
What does ‘rope of sands’ represent?
‘Rope of sands’ highlights the contradictions in the speaker’s spiritual state, suggesting fragility.
What does ‘good cable’ signify?
‘Good cable’ represents a substantial connection to divine law, seen as a guiding force.
What does ‘wink’ symbolize?
‘Wink’ symbolizes willful ignorance, indicating the speaker’s choice to ignore truth.
What does ‘I will abroad’ suggest?
‘I will abroad’ suggests a journey of self-discovery beyond previous emotional confines.
What does ‘tie up thy fears’ indicate?
‘Tie up thy fears’ indicates an effort to control the emotional turmoil associated with fear.
What does ‘deserves his load’ imply?
‘Deserves his load’ implies that neglecting service leads to self-inflicted burdens.
What does the speaker’s increasing agitation in line 24 suggest?
It suggests that his internal struggle is intensifying despite attempts to regain control.
What does the voice calling ‘Child!’ signify?
It signifies a return to humility and dependence on God, marking a spiritual realization.
What does the response ‘My Lord’ indicate?
‘My Lord’ indicates a profound shift from defiance to submission, signifying spiritual reconciliation.
What political context influenced The Collar?
The Collar was written during the reign of King Charles I (1625–1649), a period marked by political and religious tension.
What conflicts arose during King Charles I’s reign?
Charles I’s attempts to enforce religious uniformity led to conflicts with Puritans and other dissenting groups, contributing to the English Civil War (1642–1651).
What role did George Herbert play during this time?
Herbert was a clergyman and poet, a supporter of the Anglican Church, concerned with the personal experience of faith.
How does The Collar reflect Herbert’s views on religion?
The poem reflects the individual’s struggle with the authority of both church and state, relevant in a time of increasing religious fragmentation and political unrest.
What economic changes occurred during the early Stuart period?
The emergence of the gentry and the decline of feudalism shifted the social and economic landscape.
How was the Church of England intertwined with political power?
The Church of England, which Herbert served, was intertwined with both political and economic power, especially among the ruling class.
What does the collar symbolize in The Collar?
The collar symbolizes the priest’s authority and duties, and may comment on the economic and institutional pressures of religious life.
What is the central theme of The Collar?
The poem presents an intense inner struggle between the speaker’s desire for freedom and the recognition of divine authority.
What does the collar represent in terms of authority?
The collar symbolizes both the yoke of earthly authority and the discipline of religious duty.
What themes are explored in The Collar?
The poem explores spiritual rebellion followed by spiritual reconciliation, mirroring common themes in Baroque religious poetry.
What personal struggles did George Herbert face?
Herbert was deeply pious but struggled with doubts and frustrations, a theme expressed in many of his poems.
What social context influenced The Collar?
The early 17th century was marked by religious upheaval and social stratification, with the Anglican Church holding authority over the masses.
How does The Collar reflect social duty?
The poem reflects an individual’s struggle within the broader social framework of religious life, representing the desire for autonomy.
What dual role did George Herbert fulfill?
George Herbert was both a poet and a clergyman in the Church of England, exploring the complexities of faith and personal devotion.
What does The Collar reveal about Herbert’s personal struggles?
The Collar reflects Herbert’s struggle with religious authority, doubt, and spiritual turmoil, ultimately embracing divine calling.
What literary context does The Collar belong to?
The Collar is part of Herbert’s collection of religious poetry in The Temple (1633), blending metaphysical poetry with faith exploration.
How does Herbert use metaphysical conceits in The Collar?
The collar functions as a metaphysical conceit, symbolizing both divine calling and personal oppression.
What stylistic elements characterize The Collar?
The poem employs rhythmic variation and irregular meter to reflect the speaker’s emotional turmoil.
What does the rhetorical question in The Collar signify?
The rhetorical question, ‘But shall I ever come to thee?’, signals a shift from theological discourse to personal emotion.
