Jennifer Holberg – George Herbert’s ‘The Collar’

2025-05-14

Brent is joined by Jennifer Holberg to discuss George Herbert’s classic poem ‘The Collar. Jennifer is professor and chair of the English Department at Calvin University in the States and co-director of the Calvin Center for Faith and Writing. She’s also the author of the book ‘Nourishing Narratives’. (0:50) Who is George Herbert? What is metaphysical poetry? (3:30) The poem; (6:30) The Collar as a metaphor; (9:10) The first 5 lines; (11:25) Verses 6-9. The thorn and the blood; (12:45) The plant; (16:00) Verses 10-18;...

Brent is joined by Jennifer Holberg to discuss George Herbert’s classic poem ‘The Collar.

Jennifer is professor and chair of the English Department at Calvin University in the States and co-director of the Calvin Center for Faith and Writing. She’s also the author of the book ‘Nourishing Narratives’.

(0:50) Who is George Herbert? What is metaphysical poetry?
(3:30) The poem;
(6:30) The Collar as a metaphor;
(9:10) The first 5 lines;
(11:25) Verses 6-9. The thorn and the blood;
(12:45) The plant;
(16:00) Verses 10-18;
(22:30) How the poem fits into the collection as a whole.

Links mentioned in this episode:

/calvin.edu/people/jennifer-l-holberg

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Herbert

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