Devotional Poetry of the 17th Century: Donne, Herbert & Bradstreet

Course Description

Encountering devotional poetry of the seventeenth century will inspire your appreciation for literature and bring new light to your devotion. In this course we will engage both our hearts and our minds in an exploration of select works by John Donne, George Herbert, and Anne Bradstreet (the first published writer from England’s North American colonies). Through Donne’s “Holy Sonnets,” Herbert’s “The Temple,” and Bradstreet’s meditative poetry, we will consider themes of spiritual conflict, divine love, and Puritan piety. As we journey through these richly textured poems, we will gain fresh perspectives on prayer and devotion, inviting us to see the presence of God anew.

This course does not require specialist knowledge of English literature, only an open mind and a willingness to engage with the poems.