George Herbert was a very, very… very religious man. In fact, he was a priest in the Anglican Church for a number of years before he died. It's no surprise, then, that "The Altar" is about religion and spirituality, and, more specifically, about offering oneself to God. This is the whole point of the altar that the speaker talks about. It's made out of his heart, which is his way of saying, "Dear God, I've taken my heart and made an altar out of it for you. I'm giving you everything I have—including this poem." The speaker offers his entire emotional being to God, and wants to take up his cross, as they say, by making sacrifices for (and praising) his lord (that's what all that business about sacrifice and tears is about in this poem).
Questions About Religion
- How does the poem's shape affect the way we interpret its religious themes? Does it enhance them? Draw our attention away from them? Why do you think so?
- Okay, we've got to ask: is there something bizarre about making an altar out of one's heart, really? How would the speaker answer this question?
- Does the speaker's sacrifice and labor for God seem genuine? Why or why not?
- Does this poem seem preachy at all, or does it communicate serious religious ideas in an engaging and memorable way? Which parts of the poem give you your answer?
Chew on This
Dig it: art is only possible through the skills and materials provided by God, the "stones" he has cut and the heart he has provided.
A relationship with God isn't easy. It involves labor, sacrifice, and a fair share of pain. The payoff, however, could be salvation and eternal life (at least according to Herbert).