The Collar

Question 1

What imagery is used in the phrase ‘I struck the board’?

Answer 1

The phrase employs dramatic imagery that conveys frustration or defiance. The verb ‘struck’ indicates an emotional outburst, while ‘board’ symbolizes restraint or confinement.

Question 2

What does the exclamatory phrase ‘No more’ signify?

Answer 2

‘No more’ signals rebellion and an assertion of personal autonomy, indicating an abrupt refusal to conform to imposed rules.

Question 3

What does ‘I will abroad’ express?

Answer 3

‘I will abroad’ demonstrates the speaker’s desire for escape and movement away from constraint.

Question 4

What is emphasized by the repetition of ‘free’ in ‘My lines and life are free; free as the road’?

Answer 4

The repetition emphasizes the speaker’s desire for independence and liberation, with ‘free as the road’ symbolizing an open, unbounded path.

Question 5

What does the simile ‘Loose as the wind’ suggest?

Answer 5

‘Loose as the wind’ employs looseness as a metaphor for freedom, while ‘as large as store’ suggests abundance and opportunity.

Question 6

What does the rhetorical question ‘Shall I be still in suit?’ imply?

Answer 6

It suggests the speaker’s inner turmoil about his role as a servant of God or a man under divine obligation.

Question 7

What does the metaphor of ‘harvest’ juxtaposed with ‘thorn’ represent?

Answer 7

It suggests disappointment or the lack of spiritual reward, contrasting the idea of fulfillment with pain and suffering.

Question 8

What does ‘let me blood, and not restore’ imply?

Answer 8

‘Let me blood’ refers to the physical and emotional toll endured, while ‘not restore’ suggests a lack of healing.

Question 9

What does ‘What I have lost with cordial fruit?’ question?

Answer 9

It questions whether there is any return for the suffering endured, seeking restoration or compensation for emotional sacrifices.

Question 10

What do ‘wine’ and ‘corn’ symbolize in the context?

Answer 10

‘Wine’ and ‘corn’ symbolize prosperity and spiritual nourishment, which the speaker feels he has lost.

Question 11

What does ‘tears did drown it’ emphasize?

Answer 11

It emphasizes emotional excess, with tears contrasting the dry or barren state of ‘wine’ and ‘corn’.

Question 12

What does the question ‘Is the year only lost to me?’ suggest?

Answer 12

It suggests a temporal dimension to suffering, indicating that an entire season has passed in frustration and loss.

Question 13

What do ‘bays’ symbolize in ‘Have I no bays to crown it?’

Answer 13

‘Bays’ symbolize victory or accomplishment, and their absence highlights the speaker’s frustration at not achieving success.

Question 14

What do ‘flowers’ and ‘garlands’ typically symbolize?

Answer 14

‘Flowers’ and ‘garlands’ symbolize beauty and celebration, while ‘blasted’ signifies decay and destruction.

Question 15

What does the phrase ‘Not so, my heart’ represent?

Answer 15

It represents an internal rebuttal, where the speaker attempts to reassure himself.

Question 16

What does ‘fruit’ symbolize in the context of the poem?

Answer 16

‘Fruit’ symbolizes spiritual sustenance, contrasting with ‘thorn’ and indicating potential fulfillment.

Question 17

What does the shift in tone in line 14 signify?

Answer 17

It marks a turning point where the speaker reaffirms his faith and moves from despair to hope.

Question 18

What does ‘thou hast hands’ imply?

Answer 18

It implies a commanding tone instructing the heart to act and recover its lost vitality.

Question 19

What does ‘sigh-blown age’ metaphorically tie together?

Answer 19

It ties the speaker’s emotional state of sighing to the aging process, indicating weariness.

Question 20

What does ‘double pleasures’ refer to?

Answer 20

‘Double pleasures’ refers to spiritual rewards that exceed worldly enjoyment.

Question 21

What does ‘cold dispute’ suggest?

Answer 21

‘Cold dispute’ refers to lifeless intellectual arguments that are unproductive.

Question 22

What does the imperative ‘forsake thy cage’ symbolize?

Answer 22

It symbolizes breaking free from spiritual confinement imposed by rules and expectations.

Question 23

What does ‘rope of sands’ represent?

Answer 23

‘Rope of sands’ highlights the contradictions in the speaker’s spiritual state, suggesting fragility.

Question 24

What does ‘good cable’ signify?

Answer 24

‘Good cable’ represents a substantial connection to divine law, seen as a guiding force.

Question 25

What does 'wink' symbolize?

Answer 25

'Wink' symbolizes willful ignorance, indicating the speaker's choice to ignore truth.

Question 26

What does 'I will abroad' suggest?

Answer 26

'I will abroad' suggests a journey of self-discovery beyond previous emotional confines.

Question 27

What does 'tie up thy fears' indicate?

Answer 27

'Tie up thy fears' indicates an effort to control the emotional turmoil associated with fear.

Question 28

What does 'deserves his load' imply?

Answer 28

'Deserves his load' implies that neglecting service leads to self-inflicted burdens.

Question 29

What does the speaker's increasing agitation in line 24 suggest?

Answer 29

It suggests that his internal struggle is intensifying despite attempts to regain control.

Question 30

What does the voice calling 'Child!' signify?

Answer 30

It signifies a return to humility and dependence on God, marking a spiritual realization.

Question 31

What does the response 'My Lord' indicate?

Answer 31

'My Lord' indicates a profound shift from defiance to submission, signifying spiritual reconciliation.

Question 32

What political context influenced The Collar?

Answer 32

The Collar was written during the reign of King Charles I (1625–1649), a period marked by political and religious tension.

Question 33

What conflicts arose during King Charles I's reign?

Answer 33

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).

Question 34

What role did George Herbert play during this time?

Answer 34

Herbert was a clergyman and poet, a supporter of the Anglican Church, concerned with the personal experience of faith.

Question 35

How does The Collar reflect Herbert's views on religion?

Answer 35

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.

Question 36

What economic changes occurred during the early Stuart period?

Answer 36

The emergence of the gentry and the decline of feudalism shifted the social and economic landscape.

Question 37

How was the Church of England intertwined with political power?

Answer 37

The Church of England, which Herbert served, was intertwined with both political and economic power, especially among the ruling class.

Question 38

What does the collar symbolize in The Collar?

Answer 38

The collar symbolizes the priest’s authority and duties, and may comment on the economic and institutional pressures of religious life.

Question 39

What is the central theme of The Collar?

Answer 39

The poem presents an intense inner struggle between the speaker’s desire for freedom and the recognition of divine authority.

Question 40

What does the collar represent in terms of authority?

Answer 40

The collar symbolizes both the yoke of earthly authority and the discipline of religious duty.

Question 41

What themes are explored in The Collar?

Answer 41

The poem explores spiritual rebellion followed by spiritual reconciliation, mirroring common themes in Baroque religious poetry.

Question 42

What personal struggles did George Herbert face?

Answer 42

Herbert was deeply pious but struggled with doubts and frustrations, a theme expressed in many of his poems.

Question 43

What social context influenced The Collar?

Answer 43

The early 17th century was marked by religious upheaval and social stratification, with the Anglican Church holding authority over the masses.

Question 44

How does The Collar reflect social duty?

Answer 44

The poem reflects an individual’s struggle within the broader social framework of religious life, representing the desire for autonomy.

Question 45

What dual role did George Herbert fulfill?

Answer 45

George Herbert was both a poet and a clergyman in the Church of England, exploring the complexities of faith and personal devotion.

Question 46

What does The Collar reveal about Herbert's personal struggles?

Answer 46

The Collar reflects Herbert's struggle with religious authority, doubt, and spiritual turmoil, ultimately embracing divine calling.

Question 47

What literary context does The Collar belong to?

Answer 47

The Collar is part of Herbert’s collection of religious poetry in The Temple (1633), blending metaphysical poetry with faith exploration.

Question 48

How does Herbert use metaphysical conceits in The Collar?

Answer 48

The collar functions as a metaphysical conceit, symbolizing both divine calling and personal oppression.

Question 49

What stylistic elements characterize The Collar?

Answer 49

The poem employs rhythmic variation and irregular meter to reflect the speaker’s emotional turmoil.

Question 50

What does the rhetorical question in The Collar signify?

Answer 50

The rhetorical question, 'But shall I ever come to thee?', signals a shift from theological discourse to personal emotion.