Philip Larkin's “Church Going” and George Herbert's “Prayer” have similarities in that they both explore the ambiguities of religion. The difference lies in their approach: Herbert contemplates the meaning of religion, while Larkin, almost three centuries later, contemplates its very existence. The content and thematic elements of these poems perhaps differ significantly due to the period in which they were written and published. Larkin first published "Church Going" in the 1950s, a relatively modern era when religion and the concept of "God" were beginning to be widely questioned. In comparison, Herbert composed his poem in the late 1600s, shortly after Tudor rule. At this time in history, religion was a much more common part of people's daily lives, meaning that his poem assumes that religion will always be an established institution. It is interesting to consider that this may be why the two poems differ so much in content. However, this essay will also discuss how the two poets differ in their storytelling and choice of language to create these two opposing viewpoints. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay Both of these poems are based on a narrator's views regarding religion. Therefore, to modify these views, the poets present two very different narrative perspectives. Throughout “Church Going,” the speaker appears awkward and unsure of how religion fits into his current situation; Larkin calls him an “intruder”: Hatless, I remove my cycle clips with awkward respect. Larkin deliberately takes this traditional image and replaces it with an almost comical object; without a hat, the narrator removes his bicycle clips as the only way he can think of to show his respect. This reminds the reader of his modernity, both through his dress and his inappropriate appearance for a church. But Larkin perhaps also suggests the opposite: that religion and its seat in the Church are also now inappropriate for modern life. This contrasts with the attitude of “Prayer”, where religion is valued as an undeniable aspect of society. Additionally, the phrase "awkward reverence" suggests an attempt to show respect. A later line in the poem sees the narrator trying to "[reintroduce] religion on its own terms, expressing himself as someone without faith trying to recapture the comfort it once provided." This completely changes the narrator's perspective; the “awkward reverence” is not due to ignorance of the religion, but to an earlier neglect to which he has only just returned, apparently years later. Therefore, Larkin's poem presents a very personal narrative, in which religion has evolved from a global movement to an individual battle for one person. This questioning of religion simply does not occur in Herbert's "Prayer." The narrator praises religion and is completely convinced of its fulfilling power, demonstrated by the constant use of religious language: "Prayer at the banquet of churches, angels grow old/the breath of God in man, returning at his birth.” The metaphor “Banquet of the Churches” alludes to this idea of ​​the Eucharist; prayer is considered to be akin to physical nourishment. Furthermore, the connection between the physical and the spiritual – “heaven and earth” – suggests a complete respect for the teaching of the Bible, rejectingthis ambiguity of belief that Larkin imposes. It also alludes to the idea that man was created in the image of God, once again linking humanity to a deity-like image. Herbert also refers to the crucifixion where "God [returns] to his birth." By presenting the very origins of religion, it suggests that religion is as relevant as ever to Herbert's narrator, and will continue to be so in the future. Once religion has been cemented as a concept, Herbert also considers how a person can be respectful to God, clarifying that spirits will bear witness to our own spirit. This suggests that religious worship must be an action – as prayer is – to show respect. Therefore, these overtly religious metaphors provide a comparison to “Church Going”; its vague imagery of "the sacred end" reflects how Larkin's narrator is so unfamiliar with religion that he cannot use the correct terminology to describe his surroundings or his lost faith. As has been discussed previously, both poems discuss the relevance of religion in society. . The contrasting element lies in how secure this institution is and how long religion will continue to be important to society and its members. This is seen through the ending of each poem and the final impressions that the narrators impose on the reader. In “Prayer,” the metaphors have been resolved. Helen Vendler comments: "The final definition of prayer as 'something understood' abolishes or removes the need for explanatory metaphors. Herbert seems to allude to it almost directly in his poem, suggesting the "land of spices" as "something understood." This suggests that the metaphor has been universally understood and can be understood by all those within the religion who will automatically understand. This perhaps presents a community exclusivity; only those who understand the biblical reference can understand the poem. This is why Herbert's poem asserts that as long as this understanding remains, the power of the Church and religion will also be relevant. However, the use of this ambiguous pronoun is interesting to consider as a contrast to the extremely specific religious metaphors used previously. Larkin's "Church Going" would consider this "something" as an indefinable and ambiguous aspect. However, in the context of "prayer", "something" seems to mean faith instead, and its ambiguity simply means that it is not a tangible object. Thus, the ending of Herbert's poem is both ambiguous to the non-religious but obvious to the religious, suggesting the possible potential relevance that religion might have in society. In "Church Going," the poem's conclusion almost actively rejects religion, confirming that "this place wasn't worth stopping for." The ending suggests a modern way of thinking that assumes that this belief will be "an inevitable development in people's thinking": which, he once heard, was appropriate for becoming wise, if only so many dead lie around . This suggests that Larkin's narrator is representative of an entire generation, which automatically makes this negative ending increasingly poignant. This is reflected in Larkin's reference to the cemetery, reflecting the future status of the Church and what it will represent: a past and metaphorically dead entity. He also comments on the appropriate role of the Church in modern life; it is considered a peaceful place in which it was "appropriate to grow up in wisdom", but not to live one's life. This lack of regimented belief is reflected in the structure of the poem as well as the ending. “Church.