"Church Going" by Philip Larkin and "Prayer" by George Herbert 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 greatly due to the period in which they were written and published. Larkin first published "Church Going" in the 1950s, a relatively modern era in which religion and the concept of "God" were beginning to be widely questioned. By comparison, Herbert composed his poetry in the late 1600s, shortly after the reign of the Tudors. At this point in history, religion was a much more common part of people's daily lives, meaning that his poetry 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 narrative and choice of language to create these two opposing visions. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay. Both of these poems are based on a narrator's point of view regarding religion. Therefore, to change these views, the poets present two very different narrative perspectives. In "Church Going", the speaker appears awkward and unsure of how religion fits into his current situation; Larkin calls him "an interloper": Hatless, I take off my bicycle clips with embarrassed reverence Larkin purposely takes this traditional image and replaces it with an almost comical object; hatless, the narrator takes off his period clips as the only way he can think of to show respect. This reminds the reader of his modernity, both through his clothing and how seemingly inappropriate it is for a church setting. Yet Larkin perhaps also suggests the opposite: that religion and its place 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. Furthermore, the phrase "awkward reverence" suggests an attempt to show respect. A later line of the poem has the narrator trying to "[reintroduce] religion on his own terms, speaking as someone without faith who is trying to recover the comfort it used to provide." This completely changes the narrator's perspective; the "awkward reverence" is not due to a lack of familiarity with the religion, but to an earlier neglect that he is only now returning to, apparently years later. Therefore, Larkin's poem presents a very personal narrative, in which religion has gone from a worldwide movement to an individual battle for one person. This questioning of religion simply does not occur in Herbert's "Prayer." The narrator is in the highest praise of religion and is absolutely convinced of its fulfilling power, shown through the consistent use of religious language: "Prayer, the banquet of the Church, the angels grow old, the breath of God in man, returns to his birth". The metaphor 'Banquet of the Churches' alludes to this idea of ​​the Eucharist; prayer is seen as similar to physical nourishment. Furthermore, the connection between the physical and the spiritual – “heaven and earth” – suggests a total reverence for the teaching of the Bible, rejecting this ambiguity of faith imposed by Larkin. It also alludes to the idea that man was created in the image of God, making the connection once againhumanity to a deity-like image. Herbert also refers to the crucifixion in which "God [is] returning to his birth." By presenting the very origins of religion, he suggests that religion is still just as relevant to Herbert's narrator, and will continue to be just as relevant in the future. Once the concept of religion has been consolidated, Herbert also reflects on how a person can be respectful towards God, specifying that the spirits will bear witness to our spirit. This suggests that religious worship must be an action – as prayer is – to show reverence. Thus, these overtly religious metaphors provide a comparison to "Church Going"; his vague image of the "sacred end" reflects the way in which 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 that religion has in society. . The contrasting element lies in how secure this institution will be and how long religion will continue to be important to society and its members. This can be seen through the conclusion of each poem and the resulting last 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 eliminates the need for explanatory metaphors.” Herbert seems to allude to this 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 belonging to the religion who will automatically understand it. This perhaps represents an exclusivity of the community; only those who understand the biblical reference can understand the poem. Therefore Herbert's poem states that as long as this understanding remains, the power of the Church and religion will also be relevant. However, it is interesting to consider the use of this ambiguous pronoun in contrast to the extremely specific religious metaphors used previously. Larkin's 'Church Going' would regard this 'something' as indefinable and ambiguous. However, in the context of "Prayer", "something" seems to mean faith instead, and its ambiguity only means that it is not a tangible object. Therefore the end of Herbert's poem is ambiguous to the non-religious but at the same time obvious to the religious, suggesting the possible potential relevance that religion could have in society. In “Church Going,” the conclusion of the poem almost actively rejects religion, confirming that “one place was not worth stopping at.” The ending suggests a modern way of thinking that assumes that this belief will be "an inevitable evolution in people's thinking": which, he once felt, was right for becoming wise, if only because so many dead people lie around. This suggests that Larkin's narrator is representative of an entire generation, which automatically makes this bad ending increasingly poignant. This is reflected in Larkin's reference to the cemetery, mirroring 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 seen as a peaceful place that was "suitable for becoming wise", but not for living a life. This lack of regimented conviction is reflected in the structure of the poem, as well as the ending. “Church Going” has neither a rhyme scheme nor structured verses. If we consider that Herbert believed that '[t]he ultimate method of reflecting the glory of God was the creation of a work of decency and order, […] an orderly poem...', then the.