The Altar Poem Analysis
"The Altar: Exploring George Herbert's Emblematic Religious Poetry"Introduction
"The Altar" is a religious poem written by the metaphysical poet George Herbert, published in 1633 in his collection "The Temple." The poem is a prime example of emblematic poetry, a form of poetry where the visual arrangement of the text on the page contributes to the poem's meaning. In "The Altar," Herbert employs religious symbolism and intricate wordplay to explore themes of sacrifice, devotion, and the spiritual significance of the altar in Christian worship.
Form and Structure
"The Altar" is composed of 20 lines, written in iambic pentameter. The poem's most striking feature is its visual form, as the lines are arranged to resemble an altar in a church, with shorter lines at the top and longer lines toward the bottom. This visual representation reinforces the poem's themes and adds an extra layer of meaning to the text. The poem is also written in rhymed couplets, a pattern that contributes to its sense of symmetry and balance.
Themes and Imagery
Sacrifice and Devotion: The primary theme of "The Altar" is the idea of sacrifice and devotion to God. The poem begins with the speaker's desire to build an altar out of his "broken" heart, suggesting that he is humbled and contrite before God. Throughout the poem, the speaker emphasizes his willingness to offer his heart as a sacrificial offering, reflecting the Christian belief in the importance of personal devotion and self-sacrifice in the pursuit of a relationship with God.
The Altar as a Symbol: The altar is a central symbol in Christian worship, representing the place where sacrifices are offered to God. In the poem, the altar takes on multiple meanings. It symbolizes not only the physical altar found in a church but also the speaker's own heart, which he offers to God as a living sacrifice. This connection between the physical altar and the spiritual altar of the heart highlights the idea that true worship and devotion take place within the individual, rather than solely in the external rituals of religious practice.
Language and Wordplay
Herbert's use of language in "The Altar" is marked by intricate wordplay and symbolism. One notable example is the line "Which if you with your beames will mend," where the word "beames" can be read both as beams of light (suggesting God's grace) and as the wooden beams used in the construction of an altar. This dual meaning reinforces the poem's themes of spiritual illumination and the building of a spiritual altar within the heart.
Similarly, the poem's final line, "That so the stones may lightly flye," uses wordplay to suggest the idea of spiritual transformation. The "stones" in this line can be interpreted as both the physical stones used to build an altar and the stony, unyielding nature of the human heart. The speaker's desire for the stones to "lightly flye" implies a hope for spiritual transformation, as his heart becomes more open and responsive to God's grace.
Conclusion
"The Altar" is a complex and visually striking poem that uses form, imagery, and language to explore themes of sacrifice, devotion, and the spiritual significance of the altar in Christian worship. George Herbert's skillful use of emblematic poetry and intricate wordplay makes "The Altar" a rewarding and thought-provoking work that continues to resonate with readers today.