The Argument of His Book

Fiction | Poem | Adult | Published in 1648

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Summary

Background

Poem Analysis

Themes

Symbols & Motifs

Literary Devices

Background

Literary Context

“The Argument of His Book” was not published on its own as a single poem, but rather as part of Herrick’s collection Hesperides (1648). Some have likened “The Argument of His Book” to a “table of contents” at the opening of Herrick’s lyrical volume. In his article “The ‘Argument’ and the Opening of Robert Herrick’s ‘Book,’” Thomas Moisan analyzes how this particular poem of Herrick’s prepares readers for what is to come in the rest of the collection. According to Moisan, the poem tells readers:

not only what to expect to find therein, but how and when and when not to read it, whom we are to blame for any ‘Transgressions’ we find in it - and whom, by implication we are not to blame and what we are not to suppose are transgressions - when we have reached its midpoint, and when we have drawn close to its end. (130)

“The Argument of His Book” serves then, in Moisan’s view, as a miniature of the entire work. The poem cannot be fully comprehended without this contextualization of the larger work in which it resides.

Another important aspect of this literary contextualization is the genre of lyrical poetry. Lyrics were the main form of poetry in 17th century England. Since “The Argument of His Book” relates the thoughts and feelings of the speaker, it fits the definition of a lyric poem, as do the majority of the other texts in Herrick’s collection. Herrick was entering his collection into a tradition of other lyric poets, such as Ben Jonson. The ubiquitous nature of these lyric poems explains some of Herrick’s anxiety in making sure his collection survived to posterity—a point of view expressed by Randall Ingram in his article “Robert Herrick and the makings of Hesperides.” Ingram notes: “The anxiety Hesperides expresses about its format seems justified because, as a number of historians have chronicled, print did not necessarily confer status or long life, especially to lyric poetry” (131). Herrick’s “argument” in this context becomes an argument for the preservation of his writings.

Historical Context

In Guardian article written specifically about “The Argument of His Book,” author Carol Rumens mentions how Herrick’s poem “may encode the major historical changes in England at the period” (Rumens, Carol. “Poem of the week: The Argument of His Book by Robert Herrick.” The Guardian, 11 Sept. 2017). Hesperides, the volume containing this particular Herrick poem, was published in 1648—in the throes of the English Civil War and amidst all of the social and political turmoil that came along with it. The British Library characterizes this period as one of “huge political and social upheaval. From an age characterized by the Crown’s tight control of the state, the century witnessed years of war, terror and bloodshed that enveloped the kingdom, as well as the execution of Charles I and the introduction of a republic” (White, Matthew. “The turbulent 17th century: Civil War, regicide, the Restoration, and the Glorious Revolution.” Brewminate, 2018).

Prior to the publication of Hesperides, the first battle of the English Civil War occurred in 1642 in Edgehill, Warwickshire. In 1649, the year following Hesperides’s publication, King Charles I was executed. These are the social and historical upheavals to which Herrick may be referring when he writes, “I sing of Time’s trans-shifting” (Line 9) in “The Argument of His Book” (Line 9). This historical context could also account for the shift between the more jovial, springtime imagery (the “happier” times in British history) and the “twilight” with its hellish and mythical imagery. Beyond “The Argument of His Book,” scholars have analyzed Hesperides for Herrick’s political implications as well, ranging from his Royalist sympathies to his critique of the Stuart monarchy. As stated in his biography, Herrick was removed from his church office due to his Royalist affiliations.