How did George Herbert, Richard Crashaw, and Henry Vaughan continue John Donne’s influence?

John Donne exerted a profound influence on 17th-century religious poetry, establishing a style characterized by intellectual complexity, the use of common speech rhythms, and the exploration of consciousness through wit and paradox. His most enduring followers—George Herbert, Richard Crashaw, and Henry Vaughan—adapted these techniques to their own spiritual visions.12

• George Herbert: A family friend of Donne, Herbert adopted his use of common language and speech rhythms. However, he replaced Donne’s "tortured selfhood" with a more meditative, humane assurance, focusing on practical piety and the beauty of Anglican church life.31
• Richard Crashaw: Moving away from Donne’s internal focus, Crashaw’s work gravitated toward the sensuous ecstasies and emotional effusions characteristic of the Continental Baroque tradition.1
• Henry Vaughan: Influenced heavily by reading Herbert, Vaughan turned toward hermetic naturalism and mystical raptures. His poetry is marked by a unique spiritual imagination and a deep connection to nature, viewing the physical world as sharing in the expectation of resurrection.14

While each poet developed distinct thematic interests, they collectively maintained the metaphysical tradition of blending emotion with intellectual ingenuity.12