Gerard MH Flashcards
(18 cards)
WHAT AHHPENED TO hOPKINS WHILE AT oXFORD
He came under the influence of catholicism
What kind of preiest did he become
Jesuit priest in 1868
and eventually became a Professor of Greek and Latin at UCD.
what is inscape
each object in
the natural world possesses a unique combination of qualities or
characteristics that can and
should be celebrated
what is this poem an expression of
poem is an expression of joy
what type of sonnet is this
petrarchan
is the poem all posiitve?
like ‘God’s Grandeur’ the poem also recognises the dark side of existence
how does the poem show the dark side of existsnce
by using juxtaposiition between the octet and the sestet
what is the opening line like
Like ‘God’s Grandeur’, the opening line is
declaratory
–
“Nothing is so beautiful as Spring.”
The confidence of the speaker is unshakeable. He is certain in his beliefs. The line is like a thesis statement , and the speaker proceeds to present compelling supporting evidence
what is amazing about his description of how the ‘weeds in wheels, shoot long and lovely and lush: thrush eggs look like little low heavens’
precise selection the verb ‘shoot’, the positive association of words like ‘lovely ’and
lush’ and the connection between nature and God communicates a sense of exultation
“all in a rush with richness; the racing lambs too have fair their fling
ecstatic image
This syntax in this last line is unusual and captures the sense of a poet on the point of being overwhelmed by the beauty of the natural world, and, by extension, the presence of God
sensual imagery in ‘it strikes like lightning to hear him sing
Similie - lightning is sudden and intense and it is shockingly beautiful and emotionally stirring for him
how does the sestet begin
The sestet begins with a question
–
but a question framed in the most extraordinary way
–
“What is all this juice and all this joy?
–
“What is all this juice and all this joy?
The image is gustatory ( can tatste while reading)
, and the repetition
effective. Hopkins is asking himself what all of the beauty in the world
a beauty he can taste and savour symbolizes
how does hopkins answer the question what is all this joy and all this joy?
“the earth’s sweet being in the
beginning in Eden garden.”
The beauty of the natural world is a reminder of ‘heaven on
earth’, the paradise created by God
what are the last three lines
the last three and a half lines are a prayer
Hopkins refers to
the wondrous beauty of the natural world turning “
sour with sinning.”
gUSTATORY IMAGERY
Hopkins has a
heightened awareness of corruption in the world, and prays that God will protect the “Innocent mind and Mayday in girl and boy.”
This is a moving and emotional line
In ‘ God’s Grandeur’ , he noted how the majesty of the natural world can become
corrupted and despoiled by man. hE WANTS GOD TO INTERVENE WHICH IS A beautiful and deeply thought
provoking observation.
