George Herbert's poem The Thanksgiving is a work of deceptively simple construction. With its repetitive rhyme scheme, its stanzas flow easily and sound almost musical when read aloud. It is concisely written and, despite some outdated old English phrases, its content is not difficult to understand. A quick reading of the poem would suggest that it is a dedication to the Christian faith through what appears to be an attempt by the author to follow the ways of Jesus Christ. However, a close reading of certain elements of the play's composition appears to be an almost fatalistic depiction of being a good Christian. Thanksgiving is a poem that seeks to show the utter frustration and potential futility of being a follower of Christianity. Throughout the play, Herbert possesses an unwavering and seemingly imprisoned dedication to the Christian faith, but he is not equipped with the tools necessary to adequately reciprocate the sacrifice Jesus made for him and everyone else . Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an Original Essay With the title of The Thanksgiving, the reader probably begins with an expectation that this article will be written in a frank and respectful tone. From the beginning of the poem, it becomes obvious that this desire to thank is the subject of a strong and paralyzing personal conflict. The first stanza of the poem exclaims the subject of its attention: “O king of sorrow! As mentioned in parentheses, it is a title that this character deserves among all. While "king" is capitalized in a biblical manner, the image of a grieving monarch seems to be a contradiction in terms, particularly considering the poem's publication in 1633. In an age of personalities powerful autocratics who undoubtedly suffered the least among men. , this reference appears to be a deference to the King of the Jews – Jesus Christ. Herbert's personal struggle here seems to imply the inadequacy of the author's devotion to his God. By calling him the “King of Wounds,” Herbert acknowledges the sorrow that Jesus Christ endured as a martyr for the sake of humanity and, conversely, sees the failure of his attempts to match it. As he exclaims, in what way can one mourn one's fate and suffering: "Who in all sorrow hinders me?" » He who has made the ultimate sacrifice does not have the resources to show sadness and esteem for what Jesus Christ did for him. Thanksgiving may initially conflict with our traditional connotation of the phrase as an example of collective (holiday-like) respect, but only in the sense that this attempt to give thanks is of a deeper, individual intention. The end of the poem is marked both by a sudden change in the author's point of view and by a small break in the rhyme scheme of the preceding body of the poem. From the first line of the poem to line 48, there is a simple rhyme scheme. In each pair of lines, the last word rhymes. In the last pair of lines, however, the words are reminiscent of each other, but do not rhyme as clearly as the preceding lines: "So for my passion – I will do for that – / Alas, my God, I do not know What." Although "that" and "what" bear a visual resemblance, their pronunciation is close, but obviously different. In what began as a beautifully ordered and orderly poem, The Thanksgiving ends in disharmony. compares the rhyme with the content of these stanzas, the stylistic choice made by Herbert is understandable The beginning of the poem...