Elements of content
The poem ‘God’s Grandeur’ is a traditional poem by Gerard Manley Hopkins written in the romantic era. It focuses on the changes, which need to take place and away from them in the places, which have not faced the misery in the world. In the poem, Hopkins makes an expression of his feelings regarding the wretchedness of man in comparison to the beauty of nature.
Paraphrasing the poem
In the poem ‘God’s Grandeur’ by Gerard Manley Hopkins, there is the use of Biblical presentation of typological allusions defining the idea of the love of God to humankind and the destruction of nature because of industrial activities of trade. There is the expression of divinity and the insight of change as an enticement of improvement of the turmoil of life. There is translation of spiritual devotion through the presentation of the relationship between the natural world and human nature through the guidance and protection of God.
Analyzing the themes
The themes in the poem are such as the exploration of the relationship of man and the natural world. There is a deep look at the natural world in the poem, ‘God is Grandeur’, with the expression of the almighty nature of God, who does not hold his contempt against people, because they keep destroying nature through industrial activities.
However, Hopkins claim about this treatment lies on the surface with the exploration of a renewal idea cutting across the damages of the earth and of the hearts of people. He feels that the damage on the earth is reparable and explains it through his presentation of the process of renewal.
The other theme is on life, consciousness and existence and in these; there is the exploration of the meaning of life and existence through the protection and appreciation of nature. This produces intense joy and anxiety, with the poem being very serious about the destructiveness of life, creating a different perspective for considering existence in a consciousness about nature. There is also a deep exploration of religion with the speaker talking about religious beliefs.
The tone of the poem
The poet is not happy about the activities of man about the destruction of the earth and human soul. The disappointment the poet has in the destructive nature of man is concerning the reasons why people keep destroying the earth in claims of trade. He is not happy about the sacrificing of nature and that is his reason for the emphasis on the possibilities of renewal.
These are disappointing points for the writer and he is clear about the fact that there is no true happiness for man as long as there is continued damage of the earth. The only joy the writer has is on the possibility of renewal and rescue of nature other that the compelling destruction in the search of means for meeting of needs. This situation leaves the speaker wondering why there is so much turmoil when options for making a difference remain so close.
Elements of form
The writer uses exotic language, which moves the reader through the fascination of a religious journey and creates a consciousness of the relationship between nature and the existence of humankind. The poet uses repetition to present his opinions such as in the repetition of the word ‘trod’. He simply implies that the problems faced on the earth are basically on its surface.
He rhetorically presents hope in the poem, showing that the changes people need are right within their reach, though they choose alternatives, which only lead to their destruction and the destruction of nature. He combines concrete phrases with words such as ‘freshness’ and ‘dearest’ for the creation of beautiful imagery about the coolness of underground springs, little seedlings coming out of the ground. Further, the use of the ‘west’ for the setting of the sun is in context to the direction where the sunsets.
Ametonimy presents a clear knowledge about sunset. In line 11, there is the personification of the word ‘morning’ saying by talking about its jumping and running across the sky. That is metaphorical for clarity in the mind and hope in life since morning comes with new shade of light.
The poem uses distinct rhyme schemes, similes and language for the proposition of the views held about the world. It uses the traditional structure of a traditional Petrachan sonnet in the poem through the employment of an octave and a sestet, which aids him in the display of two distinct views of the world.
In the first quatrain, Hopkins shows his idea of the God being present. He uses the second quatrain to show the manner in which humankind has rejected and destroyed nature with all the beauty it creates. This elements create pressure within the poem.
Hopkins relieves it by introduction of a volta, shifting the argumentative direction between the sestet and the octave. Within the sestet, Hopkins argues that despite humankind being rebellious, God has not abandoned them and the earth. ‘And for all this nature is never spent.’ In the sestet, the creation of renewal and hope is shown with the display of God as one who takes care of the fallen world in need of redemption and protection.
This needs to take place in areas that have seen no misery and away from the nature of man in areas that are still clear of the miseries of the world. God takes care of man in a manner similar to a maturing mother feeding its child from the breasts and, thus, offers full protection regardless of human detachment from nature. The poem is full of alliteration creating a melodic repetition of consonants like in use of ‘Grandeur of Gog’, ‘Shining from Shook’ and ‘lasting lights’ among others.