Henry Vaughan was a 17th century religious poet who concluded some observations and formed some strong opinions about man's nature. Vaughan juxtaposes nature and man in his apollonian structured poem to illuminate his observations. It was his belief that man constantly "knocks at all doors, strays and roams, nay hath not so much wit as some stones," and that while man aimlessly ambles along it is nature that has truly found rest. Through structure, juxtaposition, allusions, and shift in tone Vaughan captivates the reader allowing them to comprehend his observations.
Henry Vaughan's poem "Man" contains an apollonian structure resembling that of the Bible in Matthew, chapter 6. His choice to elucidate his observations of man in an apollonian structure is somewhat ironic, for he sees man as wildly erratic and Dionysian. . By making the choice to closely structure the poem not only in a orderly manner but like that of Matthew, chapter 6 it emphasizes his belief that this rest and order must be obtained by way of God. In structuring his poem like that of Matthew and borrowing some of his phrasing directly from it, Vaughan provides credibility to his work. He proves that his beliefs have been witnessed and documented not only by himself, but also by another substantial source.
The whole of Vaughan's work is juxtaposition between man and nature. Lines 1-7 in "Man depict the uniformity of nature. The lines whisper a revered honorary tone towards the greatness of nature. In the lines to follow the reader notices a shift in the tone. A transgression from a revered tone to one of pleading question, as Vaughan addresses his main pondering thought. " I would (said I) my God would give the staidness of theses things to man!" By these things Vaughan is referring to the previous stanza containing nature and order, as he questions why God did not bestow humanity with these qualities. Once again nature and man are laid side by side for comparison.
