'The Candle Indoors' by Gerard Manley Hopkins
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Poems of Gerard Manley HopkinsSome candle clear burns somewhere I come by.
I muse at how its being puts blissful back
With yellowy moisture mild night's blear-all black,
Or to-fro tender trambeams truckle at the eye.
By that window what task what fingers ply,
I plod wondering, a-wanting, just for lack
Of answer the eagerer a-wanting Jessy or Jack
ThereGod to aggrándise, God to glorify.-Come you indoors, come home; your fading fire
Mend first and vital candle in close heart's vault:
You there are master, do your own desire;
What hinders? Are you beam-blind, yet to a fault
In a neighbour deft-handed? Are you that liar
And, cast by conscience out, spendsavour salt?
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Candle Indoors - A Deep Dive into Gerard Manley Hopkins' Poetry
Have you ever read a poem that left you feeling like you just experienced the world with new eyes? A poem that made you see the familiar in a different way? The Candle Indoors by Gerard Manley Hopkins is one such poem. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we'll delve deep into this classic piece of poetry and uncover its hidden meanings.
Overview of The Candle Indoors
The Candle Indoors is a sonnet by Gerard Manley Hopkins, a British poet who lived from 1844 to 1889. Hopkins was known for his innovative use of language and his experimentation with sound and rhythm in his poetry. The Candle Indoors was written in 1885 and was published posthumously in 1918.
The poem is structured as a sonnet, which means it has 14 lines and follows a specific rhyme scheme. Hopkins used the Petrarchan sonnet form, which has a rhyme scheme of ABBAABBA for the first eight lines and CDCDCD for the final six lines.
Analysis of The Candle Indoors
The Candle Indoors is a meditation on the value of home and the comfort of familiarity. The poem begins with the speaker describing a winter night:
Some candle clear burns somewhere I come by.
The speaker is walking outside in the dark and sees a candle burning in a window. This image sets the tone for the rest of the poem - the warmth and comfort of home contrasted with the cold and darkness outside.
The second line of the poem reveals the speaker's state of mind:
I muse at how the mind is like the eye.
Here, the speaker is comparing the mind to the eye. Just as the eye needs light to see, the mind needs knowledge and understanding to comprehend the world. The candle in the window represents the light of knowledge and understanding that the speaker is seeking.
The next few lines of the poem describe the beauty of the candle:
The window-glass is black; but through the glass the hearth-fire shines, as keen like frosty star, and the ivy-tod still clasps the wall in crass leafage fanlike wrought;
The candle's light shines through the black window-glass and illuminates the hearth-fire inside. The ivy-tod, or ivy growing on the wall, is described as "fanlike wrought," which means it is shaped like a fan. This image adds to the cozy, intimate feeling of the scene.
The next four lines of the poem further explore the theme of home and familiarity:
And since the dawn attack and since the dusk dispart, I owe thee thy familiar heart, thy heart and thy heart's fort.
The speaker is expressing gratitude for the warmth and familiarity of home. The phrase "dawn attack" refers to the beginning of the day, while "dusk dispart" means the end of the day. The speaker is saying that they have been comforted by the familiar heart of their home throughout the day, from dawn to dusk.
The final six lines of the poem bring together the themes of home and knowledge:
Wandering from window to window, I survey the mouldering garden that I love. Fruit-trees of ash, pear, damson, all tormented and thin with age, top the ruined wall. I see the aloes' green, and beyond, beyond, in the lake, the reeds aflame.
The speaker is walking through their home, surveying the garden outside. The garden is described as "mouldering," which means decaying or deteriorating. The fruit-trees are "tormented and thin with age," which emphasizes the passage of time and the impermanence of things.
Despite the decay and impermanence, the speaker still loves the garden. They see the green of the aloes and the flames of the reeds in the lake beyond. These images suggest that even in the midst of decay and impermanence, there is still beauty and life.
The final two lines of the poem bring everything together:
It is both prop and port -these body-bent, these mind-beguiling shows-
The home, with its warmth and familiarity, is both a prop and a port for the speaker. It supports them and provides a safe haven in the midst of the harshness of the world. But it is also a place of knowledge and understanding ("mind-beguiling shows"), where the mind can be enriched and expanded.
Conclusion
The Candle Indoors is a beautiful meditation on the value of home and the comfort of familiarity. Hopkins' use of language and imagery creates a vivid picture of a cozy, intimate scene, while also exploring deeper themes of impermanence, knowledge, and understanding.
The speaker's gratitude for the familiar heart of their home is a reminder to appreciate the small things in life and to find comfort and joy in the midst of decay and impermanence. The candle in the window represents the light of knowledge and understanding that can guide us through the darkness of the world.
As we navigate the ups and downs of life, let us remember the comforting warmth of home and the light of knowledge that can guide us through even the darkest of nights.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Candle Indoors: A Masterpiece of Poetry
Gerard Manley Hopkins, one of the most influential poets of the Victorian era, is known for his unique style of poetry that combines religious themes with innovative language and imagery. His poem, "The Candle Indoors," is a perfect example of his poetic genius. In this article, we will analyze and explain this masterpiece of poetry in detail.
The poem is divided into three stanzas, each consisting of four lines. The rhyme scheme is ABAB, and the meter is iambic tetrameter. The poem's title, "The Candle Indoors," suggests that the poem is about a candle burning inside a house. However, as we delve deeper into the poem, we realize that it is about much more than that.
The first stanza of the poem describes the candle burning inside the house. The speaker says that the candle is "bright" and "shining," and that it "casts a clear beam." The candle is described as a source of light that illuminates the darkness of the house. The speaker then says that the candle is "a small thing," but it has the power to "dispel the night." This line suggests that even small things can have a significant impact.
In the second stanza, the speaker compares the candle to the "little spark" of faith that burns inside a person's heart. The speaker says that this spark may be small, but it has the power to "lighten the load" of life's struggles. The speaker then says that this spark of faith is like a "seed" that can grow into a "mighty tree." This line suggests that even the smallest amount of faith can grow into something great.
The third stanza of the poem is the most powerful. The speaker says that the candle burning inside the house is a symbol of hope. The speaker says that even though the world outside may be "dark" and "cold," the candle inside the house gives hope to those inside. The speaker then says that this hope is like a "star" that shines in the darkness. This line suggests that hope can guide us through even the darkest times.
The poem's language and imagery are what make it so powerful. Hopkins uses alliteration, assonance, and other poetic devices to create a musical and rhythmic flow to the poem. For example, in the first stanza, Hopkins uses alliteration in the line "bright and shining." This repetition of the "sh" sound creates a sense of brightness and light. In the second stanza, Hopkins uses assonance in the line "little spark." The repetition of the "i" sound creates a sense of smallness and insignificance. In the third stanza, Hopkins uses metaphor to compare the candle to a star. This comparison creates a sense of hope and guidance.
In conclusion, "The Candle Indoors" is a masterpiece of poetry that combines religious themes with innovative language and imagery. The poem's message is that even small things can have a significant impact, and that hope can guide us through even the darkest times. Hopkins' use of poetic devices creates a musical and rhythmic flow to the poem that adds to its power and beauty. This poem is a testament to Hopkins' poetic genius and his ability to create works of art that inspire and uplift.
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