Get complete study materials for ‘Virtue’ by George Herbert. Find the full text, stanza-wise explanation, summary, word meanings, multiple choice questions (MCQs), question-answers, and important notes for easy learning and exam preparation.
Virtue George Herbert, Virtue poem explanation, Virtue summary, Virtue poem full text, Virtue MCQs, Virtue question answers, Virtue Class 6 English, Virtue poem solutions, Virtue stanza wise explanation, Virtue George Herbert analysis, Virtue poem notes, English literature poems, Virtue moral, Virtue poetic devices, Virtue figures of speech
Virtue
By George Herbert
Sweet day, so cool, so calm, so bright,
The bridal of the earth and sky;
The dew shall weep thy fall to-night,
For thou must die.
Sweet rose, whose hue angry and brave
Bids the rash gazer wipe his eye;
Thy root is ever in its grave,
And thou must die.
Sweet spring, full of sweet days and roses,
A box where sweets compacted lie;
My music shows ye have your closes,
And all must die.
Only a sweet and virtuous soul,
Like season’d timber, never gives;
But though the whole world turn to coal,
Then chiefly lives.
Difficult Words with Meanings
| Word/Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Bridal | Marriage, union |
| Dew | Water droplets formed on cool surfaces at night |
| Thy | Old English for “your” |
| Fall | Death, end |
| Thou | Old English for “you” |
| Hue | Colour, appearance |
| Angry and brave | Fierce, bold, striking |
| Bids | Commands or tells |
| Rash gazer | A person who looks carelessly or without thinking |
| Wipe his eye | To clear tears caused by the bright colour |
| Grave | The place where something is buried, symbol of death |
| Full of sweet days | Full of pleasant, happy days |
| Compacted | Closely packed, tightly arranged |
| Shows ye have your closes | Indicates life has its ending |
| Seasoned timber | Strong, long-lasting, well-matured wood |
| Gives | Breaks, collapses |
| Turn to coal | Turn to ashes or dust after burning |
Basic Information of the poem Virtue by George Herbert
| Information | Details |
|---|---|
| Poem Name | Virtue |
| Poet Name | George Herbert |
| Poem Type | Lyric Poem (Religious & Philosophical) |
| Rhyme Scheme | ABAB in each stanza |
| Publication Date | 1633 |
| Book Published In | The Temple: Sacred Poems and Private Ejaculations |
| Tone | Calm, reflective, philosophical |
| Moral | Earthly beauty fades, but a virtuous soul lives forever. |
Line-by-Line Explanation of “Virtue” – George Herbert
Stanza 1
Sweet day, so cool, so calm, so bright,
The poet begins by admiring a beautiful day. It’s not just visually bright, but it’s peaceful and pleasant. It feels like a perfect, balanced day—cool, calm, and radiant.
The bridal of the earth and sky;
He calls this day the “bridal” or wedding of the earth and the sky—it’s a perfect union where nature seems to come together in harmony.
The dew shall weep thy fall to-night,
But this beautiful day will not last forever. By nightfall, it will fade away. The dew will “weep” or cry, symbolizing the sadness of the day’s end.
For thou must die.
The poet reminds us that no matter how sweet or perfect the day is, it is destined to end. Nothing in the natural world lasts forever.
Stanza 2
Sweet rose, whose hue angry and brave
Now the poet turns to a rose. He describes its colour as fierce and bold. The rose has a strong, striking appearance that demands attention.
Bids the rash gazer wipe his eye;
The rose’s intense colour can overwhelm the eyes of someone who stares at it carelessly (the “rash gazer”), almost making them tear up.
Thy root is ever in its grave,
But the rose’s life is fragile. Its root is always connected to the ground—the symbol of its inevitable death. From the moment it blooms, its life is limited.
And thou must die.
Again, like the day, the rose too must die. Nothing in nature can escape decay and death.
Stanza 3
Sweet spring, full of sweet days and roses,
Now the poet talks about spring itself—a season filled with pleasant days and blooming flowers. It’s a time of beauty and joy.
A box where sweets compacted lie;
He compares spring to a treasure box where all beautiful things (the “sweets”) are packed together—a season bursting with life.
My music shows ye have your closes,
But even the beauty of spring has an end. The “music” here symbolizes life’s journey, and every song must come to its “close” or end.
And all must die.
Once again, the poet reminds us of life’s temporary nature. Everything in the world—seasons, flowers, days—will eventually die.
Stanza 4
Only a sweet and virtuous soul,
But here’s the contrast. The poet says that there is one thing that does not fade or die—a soul that is sweet (kind) and virtuous (morally good).
Like season’d timber, never gives;
He compares such a soul to seasoned wood—wood that has been dried and strengthened over time and does not break easily. It lasts.
But though the whole world turn to coal,
Even if the entire world is destroyed—burned to ashes
Then chiefly lives.
It is then that the virtuous soul truly lives and shines. Unlike everything else, this soul is eternal. It survives beyond physical death.
Figures of speech from “Virtue” by George Herbert
Personification
Example: “The dew shall weep thy fall to-night”
Explanation: Dew is given the human ability to weep (cry). It symbolizes nature mourning the end of the day.
Metaphor
Example: “The bridal of the earth and sky”
Explanation: The union of the earth and sky is compared to a wedding. It suggests harmony in nature without directly saying “it is like a wedding.”
Alliteration
Example: “So cool, so calm, so bright”
Explanation: The repetition of the ‘c’ sound creates a musical and soothing effect.
Imagery
Example: “Sweet day, so cool, so calm, so bright”
Explanation: The poet uses vivid sensory details to create a peaceful, beautiful picture of the day.
Refrain
Example: “And thou must die” / “And all must die”
Explanation: The repeated line stresses the inevitable truth of death.
MCQs from the poem “Virtue” by George Herbert
1. Who is the poet of the poem “Virtue”?
A. William Shakespeare
B. George Herbert
C. John Milton
D. William Wordsworth
Answer: B. George Herbert
2. Which natural elements are described in the poem?
A. The sun and the moon
B. A sweet day, a rose, and spring
C. Mountains and rivers
D. A tree and a bird
Answer: B. A sweet day, a rose, and spring
3. What is the common fate of the day, the rose, and the spring?
A. They will all live forever
B. They will all end or die
C. They will become stronger
D. They will turn into coal
Answer: B. They will all end or die
4. What does the “dew” do at the end of the day?
A. Dries up quickly
B. Weeps the fall of the day
C. Turns into snow
D. Shines brightly
Answer: B. Weeps the fall of the day
5. What is the meaning of “season’d timber” in the poem?
A. Fresh green wood
B. Rotten wood
C. Strong, mature wood that lasts
D. A type of tree
Answer: C. Strong, mature wood that lasts
6. Which figure of speech is used in “The bridal of the earth and sky”?
A. Simile
B. Metaphor
C. Personification
D. Hyperbole
Answer: B. Metaphor
7. According to the poet, what never dies?
A. The rose
B. Spring
C. A virtuous soul
D. A sweet day
Answer: C. A virtuous soul
8. What does the poet repeat in every stanza except the last?
A. “Sweet and virtuous soul”
B. “Thou must die” or “All must die”
C. “Sweet days and roses”
D. “The whole world will turn to coal”
Answer: B. “Thou must die” or “All must die”
9. What is the poet’s central message?
A. All natural beauty will live forever
B. Life is short but beauty is eternal
C. Only a virtuous soul is everlasting
D. Death is not important
Answer: C. Only a virtuous soul is everlasting
10. What poetic device is used in “So cool, so calm, so bright”?
A. Personification
B. Alliteration
C. Metaphor
D. Hyperbole
Answer: B. Alliteration
11. Sweet ________, so cool, so calm, so bright.
A. rose
B. day
C. spring
D. dew
Answer: B. day
12. The bridal of the ________ and sky.
A. earth
B. rose
C. spring
D. soul
Answer: A. earth
13. The ________ shall weep thy fall to-night.
A. flower
B. music
C. dew
D. spring
Answer: C. dew
14. Sweet ________, whose hue angry and brave.
A. soul
B. rose
C. day
D. timber
Answer: B. rose
15. Thy ________ is ever in its grave.
A. soul
B. root
C. timber
D. spring
Answer: B. root
16. Sweet ________, full of sweet days and roses.
A. rose
B. soul
C. spring
D. day
Answer: C. spring
17. My music shows ye have your ________.
A. closes
B. roses
C. seasons
D. choices
Answer: A. closes
19. Only a sweet and ________ soul.
A. brave
B. virtuous
C. angry
D. beautiful
Answer: B. virtuous
20. Like ________ timber, never gives.
A. green
B. season’d
C. young
D. fresh
Answer: B. season’d
21. But though the whole world turn to ________.
A. dust
B. gold
C. coal
D. ashes
Answer: C. coal
