Is there a change of meaning in the five repetitions ? ( MEG 101 ) ( GEORGE HERBERT )

Yes, there is a change of meaning in the five repetitions of the words 'head', 'dead', 'rest', and 'drest' in the poem "Aaron" by George Herbert.


In the first repetition, "head" refers to Aaron's position as high priest and his mitre. "Dead" refers to the death of Christ, which Aaron symbolizes. "Rest" refers to the Sabbath, which Aaron must observe. And "drest" refers to Aaron's clothing as high priest.


In the second repetition, "head" refers to Aaron's head and the mitre on top of it. "Dead" refers to Aaron's own death. "Rest" refers to the eternal rest that Aaron seeks in heaven. And "drest" refers to the spiritual clothing of righteousness that Aaron must wear.


So, while the words themselves are repeated, the meanings associated with them change, contributing to the development of the poem's themes.