The World by Henry Vaughan, Analysis & Summary

This study guide provides an analysis of the poem "The World" by Henry Vaughan. It includes a detailed explanation of each stanza, explores the major themes, offers a critical analysis of the poem's elements, such as symbols, language, structure, and sound devices. Additionally, it discusses the attitudes and feelings conveyed in the poem and suggests similar poems that share thematic similarities. The World Poem I saw Eternity the other night, Like a great ring of pure and endless light, All calm, as it was bright; And round beneath it, Time in hours, days, years, Driv’n by the spheres Like a vast shadow mov’d; in which the world And all her train were hurl’d. The doting lover in his quaintest strain Did there complain; Near him, his lute, his fancy, and his flights, Wit’s sour delights, With gloves, and knots, the silly snares of pleasure, Yet his dear treasure All scatter’d lay, while he his eyes did pour Upon a flow’r. The darksome statesman hung with weights …