Peace

= **George Herbert ** = = =

**Born: ** April 3rd, 1593
 * Died: ** March 1st, 1633 (age 39)

//P e a c e // Sweet Peace, where dost thou dwell? I humbly crave, Let me once know. I sought thee in a secret cave, And ask'd, if Peace were there, A hollow wind did seem to answer, "No: Go seek elsewhere."

I did; and going did a rainbow note: "Surely," thought I, "This is the lace of Peace's coat;  I will search out the matter." But while I looked the clouds immediately Did break and scatter.

Then went I to a garden and did spy A gallant flower, The crown-imperial: "Sure," said I, "Peace at the root must dwell." But when I digged, I saw a worm devour What showed so well.

At length I met a rev'rend good old man; Whom when for Peace I did demand, he thus began: "There was a Prince of old At Salem dwelt, who lived with good increase  Of flock and fold.

"He sweetly lived; yet sweetness did not save His life from foes.  But after death out of his grave  There sprang twelve stalks of wheat;  Which many wond'ring at, got some of those  To plant and set.

"It prospered strangely, and did soon disperse Through all the earth:  For they that taste it do rehearse  That virtue lies therein;  A secret virtue, bringing peace and mirth  By flight of sin.

Take of this grain, which in my garden grows, And grows for you; Make bread of it: and that repose And peace, which ev'ry where With so much earnestness you do pursue, Is only there."

** Background ** Herbert Born in Montgomery, Whales into a wealthy, intellectual family that loved and appreciated the arts. His mother was Magdalen was a friend to many English poets of the time, and his older brother was, Edward, was a philosopher and poet of importance. He attended Trinity College in Cambridge on a scholarship, where he excelled in language and music. Although he entered college with the intention of being a priest, his scholarship at Trinity attracted the attention of King James VI, who persuaded him to serve in Parliament for two years. In 1618, after graduating college with both a bachelors and masters degree of the arts, he was appointed reader in rhetoric at Cambridge University and held this position until 1628. Herbert renewed his interest in ordained ministry after the king died, and took holy orders in 1930. Throughout his life and priesthood he wrote many religious poems until his death from Tuberculosis in 1933.

**Theme** Quest themes frequently occur in literature. In this poem specifically, the speaker of the poem is on a quest to find peace. Being that George Herbert was an Anglican priest, he was likely influenced to develop the theme in this poem: a discovery of peace through the Eucharist. His main objective is to convey that only Christ, symbolized by the Eucharist, brings Peace. In order to make this discovery, the speaker through various forms of nature to find peace, but finally a revered tells him a story from the Bible about the King of Solemn trying to find peace, who is only successful in finding it through Christ and religion. Additionally, Peace is capitalized and referred to in the first person, because the speaker is asking where He dwells and years to find Him.


 * Imagery **

Herbert uses numerous examples of nature's beauty as imagery. A secret cave, a magnificent rainbow, and a gallant flower in a garden are all used as concrete examples of the peace which the speaker seeks. However, these examples of nature imagery present a symbolically deeper meaning as well. The rainbow, for example, has been interpreted as a symbol of gaudy finery, such as clothes, jewels, etc. that people buy to achieve contentment. As is described in the second stanza, the beautiful rainbow is soon covered by by clouds. This indicates that no true peaceful satisfaction can be found in the in materialistic possessions, but rather spirituality. The symbolism in the poem is similar to the symbolism that is often used in the Bible; he compares Jesus to both a prince and a shepherd. The prince reference is appropriate because he is the son of God, who is often called a king, and this relationship would properly make Jesus a prince. The symbol of a shepherd is commonly used because people are considered his flock that he gathers and leads to the kingdom of God. The twelve stalks of wheat mentioned in the narration symbolize the twelve apostles. It is said to have grown and spread much like Christianity grew and spread throughout the known world

1.) crave: Ask. 2.) secret cave: Perhaps a symbol of esoteric knowledge, or science, which cannot explain what faith accepts. 3.) rainbow: Symbol of gaudy finery (clothes, jewels, etc.) that people buy to achieve contentment. 4.) gallant: Showy; stately. 5.) crown imperial: Symbol of kingly power and authority. 6.) worm: Symbol of forces that eventually undermine earthly power and authority. 7.) Prince: Christ. 8.) Salem: Jerusalem. Jerusalem is derived from the Hebrew Yeru (Jeru), foundation or city, and shalayim (salem), peace. Jerusalem thus means foundation of peace or city of peace. 9.) twelve stalks of wheat: The Twelve Apostles. 10.) good increase. . . fold: Christ (the Prince of line 22) has frequently been compared biblically and otherwise to a shepherd leading a flock of sheep. This clause says he has increased his flock (his converts to Christianity). 11.) rehearse: Point out; tell in detail; repeat. 12.) bread: The Eucharist.
 * __Other Common Interpretations of the Poem's Symbols:__**

The structure of "Peace" is a seven stanza poem with six lines in each stanza and a continuous rhyme scheme of ABACBC. The first and third lines rhyme, as well as the second and fifth, and fourth and sixth. In each stanza, the structure is the same. Additionally, every stanza has some sort of nature-oriented theme in it. The rhyme scheme is consistent as to not detract from the meaning of the poem.
 * Meter **

Along with copious examples of nature imagery throughout the poem, a deep sense of emotion is conveyed in most of the stanzas. For the first three stanzas, as the speaker is searching for peace through physical examples, he remains disappointed by the discovery that peace does not lie within the means of physicality. For example, in line 17, "When I digged, I saw a worm devour what showed so well.", the speaker begins to feel desperation in his search for true peace because he is disappointed once again. As the poem transitions to the fourth stanza, a sense of hope is conveyed while the speaker finds a reverend. At the very end of the poem, in the last stanza, Herbert’s main character is told to take the wheat and create bread from it and that is how he will find Peace; in other words to take God’s word and consume it and through it he will ultimately find Peace. As the poem states, "with so much earnestness you do pursue is only there" (line 35). Because of this, he finally is successful in his quest for peace as a sense of joy and satisfaction is conveyed.
 * Emotion **

__//** Works Cited **//__ "Peace." //cummingstudyguides.net//. Michael J. Cumming, n.d. Web. 28 Feb. 2013. .

Nguyen, Tiffany. "Practical Criticism: Peace by George Herbert." //wordpress.com//. N.p., 13 Dec. 2006. Web. 28 Feb. 2013. 

Jokinen, Anniina. "The Life of George Herbert." //http://www.luminarium.org//. N.p., 17 July 2006. Web. 28 Feb. 2013. 