Love (III)

By: George Herbert

Created By: James Michareune + Brianna Remeika

Summary
Love (III) is a poem by George Herbert and he addresses the topic of love and
especially emphasizes the idea that everyone is worthy of Gods love despite
feelings of unworthiness, because God is a loving and forgiving entity.

Theme Analysis - Love

George Herbert addresses the topic love, and he implies that everyone is
worthy of Gods love.

An example from the poem lines 7 to 8 states, A guest, I answered, worthy to be here/ Love
said, you shall be he. In this instance the narrator is implying that he thinks he is unworthy of
being in Gods presence, but God denies that notion by saying that he is worthy.

Another example from the poem, lines 13 to 15, states, Truth Lord, but I have marred them: let
my shame/ Go where it doth deserve. /And know you not, says Love, who bore the blame?
This quote supports the theme because the narrator states that he has ruined the purity of his
God-made eyes and therefore should not be granted entrance into Heaven, but God is stating
that he bores the blame for the narrator and welcomes him regardless.

Theme Analysis - Self-Worth

George Herbert also addresses the topic of self-worth, and he implies that past
actions can lead to low self-esteem.

An example from lines 1 and 2 of the poem states, Yet my soul drew back/ Guilty of dust and
sin. From this quote the narrator is emotionally reeling from Love (God) because of past actions
which led to regret and pain.

Another example, lines 9 and 10, states,I the unkind, ungrateful? Ah my dear,/ I cannot look on
thee. This quote implies that the narrator puts himself down because he states to be unkind
and ungrateful, unable to look at God due to shame.

Figurative Language - Personification

An example of a figurative language shown in this poem is in line 1, Love bade
me welcome. This is an example of personification, and it is so because the
emotion or entity Love cannot bid someone or something welcome. It helps
illustrate the theme of the poem because Love (God) bids the narrator
welcome even though the narrator thinks himself of impure.

Figurative Language - Metaphor

One example of a figurative language portrayed in George Herberts the poem
is, Yet my soul drew back,/ Guilty of dust and sin (1-2). It is an example of a
metaphor because the author describes the soul as a physical entity, and that
the soul is tainted by some past experiences. It evokes feelings of inferiority to
God, who refuses that notion.

Figurative Language - Symbolism

One more example of figurative language displayed within the poem is in lines
1 and 13, Love and Lord. This is an example of Symbolism, and it is so
because Love refers to God. The author is a devout Catholic.

Connotative Language
In the poem Love (III), some examples of connotative language are:

Guilty of dust and sin (2).

This line has a negative connotation; it makes the narrator feel impure, guilty, and
insecure.
Love took my hand, and smiling did reply (11).

This line has a positive connotation and evokes feelings of intimacy, love, warmth, and
caring about the narrator.
Truth, Lord, but I have them; let my shame/ Go where it doth deserve. (13-14).

These two lines have a negative connotation, and it gives feelings of desperation, selfdeprecation, and unworthiness to the narrator.

Bibliography
Herbert, George. Love (III). poetryoutloud.org. N/a. Web. 13 November 2015.