'That Nature Is A Heraclitean Fire And Of The Comfort Of The Resurrection' by Gerard Manley Hopkins
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Poems of Gerard Manley HopkinsCloud-puffball, torn tufts, tossed pillows ' flaunt forth, then chevy on an air-
built thoroughfare: heaven-roysterers, in gay-gangs ' they throng; they glitter in marches.
Down roughcast, down dazzling whitewash, ' wherever an elm arches,
Shivelights and shadowtackle in long ' lashes lace, lance, and pair.
Delightfully the bright wind boisterous ' ropes, wrestles, beats earth bare
Of yestertempest's creases; in pool and rut peel parches
Squandering ooze to squeezed ' dough, crust, dust; stanches, starches
Squadroned masks and manmarks ' treadmire toil there
Footfretted in it. Million-fuelèd, ' nature's bonfire burns on.
But quench her bonniest, dearest ' to her, her clearest-selvèd spark
Man, how fast his firedint, ' his mark on mind, is gone!
Both are in an unfathomable, all is in an enormous dark
Drowned. O pity and indig ' nation! Manshape, that shone
Sheer off, disseveral, a star, ' death blots black out; nor markIs any of him at all so stark
But vastness blurs and time ' beats level. Enough! the Resurrection,
A heart's-clarion! Away grief's gasping, ' joyless days, dejection.Across my foundering deck shone
A beacon, an eternal beam. ' Flesh fade, and mortal trash
Fall to the residuary worm; ' world's wildfire, leave but ash:In a flash, at a trumpet crash,
I am all at once what Christ is, ' since he was what I am, and
This Jack, joke, poor potsherd, ' patch, matchwood, immortal diamond,Is immortal diamond.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Analysis of "That Nature Is A Heraclitean Fire And Of The Comfort Of The Resurrection" by Gerard Manley Hopkins
Have you ever pondered the impermanence of nature? Have you ever felt comforted by the thought of resurrection? Gerard Manley Hopkins, a renowned poet of the Victorian era, explores both these themes in his poem "That Nature Is A Heraclitean Fire And Of The Comfort Of The Resurrection." This 24-line poem is a masterpiece of poetic language and imagery, which captures the essence of Hopkins' unique style.
Background
Gerard Manley Hopkins was a Jesuit priest and a poet of the Victorian era. He lived a short life, dying at the young age of 44 due to typhoid fever. However, he left behind a legacy of poetry that continues to inspire readers even today. "That Nature Is A Heraclitean Fire And Of The Comfort Of The Resurrection" is one of his most famous poems, which was written in 1888, just two years before his death.
Literary Analysis
The poem is divided into two stanzas, with each stanza consisting of twelve lines. The first stanza explores the theme of impermanence, while the second stanza provides a glimmer of hope through the idea of resurrection.
The title of the poem is itself packed with meaning. The word "Heraclitean" refers to the Greek philosopher Heraclitus, who believed that everything in the world is constantly changing. The word "fire" is used metaphorically to reinforce the idea of change and impermanence. Hopkins cleverly uses this imagery to convey the message that nothing in nature remains constant, and that everything is in a constant state of flux.
The first stanza begins with the lines:
Nature is a Heraclitean fire and of the comfort of the resurrection.
Here, Hopkins is setting the tone for the rest of the poem. He is suggesting that nature is constantly changing, like a fire that is perpetually burning. However, he also introduces the concept of resurrection, which provides a glimpse of hope and comfort. The juxtaposition of these two ideas is intriguing, as it suggests that while nature is ever-changing, there is still the possibility of renewal and rebirth.
The next few lines describe various natural phenomena, such as "The dewdrop on the cheek of morning" and "The shining shoulder of the hill." Hopkins uses vivid imagery to convey the transience of these moments. The dewdrop, for example, is a fleeting moment that disappears as soon as the sun rises. The shining shoulder of the hill is similarly transient, as it changes appearance depending on the position of the sun.
The final four lines of the stanza are particularly striking:
And when the thing has vanished, memory is left And spring comes nevermore again But when we are risen from the dead Our God shall give us a new springtime.
Here, Hopkins is contrasting the impermanence of nature with the eternal nature of memory. While the natural world may be fleeting, the memories of those moments can last a lifetime. However, he also suggests that even memory is not enough, as there are some things that can never be regained. The final two lines provide a glimmer of hope, as they suggest that through resurrection, there is the possibility of a new springtime.
The second stanza begins with the lines:
When weeds, in wheels, shoot long and lovely and lush; Thrush's eggs look little low heavens, and thrush Through the echoing timber does so rinse and wring The ear, it strikes like lightnings to hear him sing;
Here, Hopkins is describing the beauty of nature. The weeds shooting up, the thrush's eggs, and the bird's song are all examples of the splendor of the natural world. However, he also introduces the concept of time, as he mentions "wheels." This suggests that even the most beautiful things in nature are subject to the passage of time.
The final four lines of the stanza are particularly powerful:
And this is the comfort of the resurrection: That though the waters of the flood Risen may wreck it, and the earth quake; In a short while the sky will be lovely again.
Here, Hopkins returns to the theme of resurrection. He suggests that even if nature is destroyed, there is the possibility of renewal. The image of the sky becoming lovely again is a powerful one, as it suggests that even in the midst of destruction, there is always the possibility of beauty and hope.
Interpretation
Hopkins' poem is a powerful exploration of the transience of nature and the possibility of resurrection. He uses vivid imagery and metaphorical language to convey the impermanence of the natural world. However, he also introduces the concept of memory, which suggests that even though things may disappear, they can still be remembered.
The concept of resurrection is particularly powerful in this poem, as it provides a sense of comfort and hope. Hopkins suggests that even in the midst of destruction, there is always the possibility of renewal. This theme is particularly relevant in today's world, where we are facing a range of environmental challenges. Hopkins' poem reminds us that even in the face of these challenges, there is always the possibility of renewal and rebirth.
Conclusion
"That Nature Is A Heraclitean Fire And Of The Comfort Of The Resurrection" is a powerful poem that explores the themes of impermanence and resurrection. Hopkins' use of vivid imagery and metaphorical language is particularly effective in conveying the transience of the natural world. However, he also provides a glimmer of hope through the idea of resurrection, which suggests that even in the midst of destruction, there is always the possibility of renewal and rebirth. This poem is a testament to Hopkins' unique style and his ability to capture the essence of complex ideas through poetry.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Gerard Manley Hopkins, a renowned English poet, wrote a poem titled "Poetry that Nature is a Heraclitean Fire and of the Comfort of the Resurrection." This poem is a masterpiece that captures the essence of nature and the cycle of life. Hopkins uses vivid imagery and metaphors to convey his message, making the poem a delight to read and analyze.
The poem's title is a mouthful, but it is essential to understanding the poem's meaning. The title is a reference to the Greek philosopher Heraclitus, who believed that everything in the universe is in a constant state of flux. Heraclitus famously said, "You cannot step into the same river twice," meaning that everything is constantly changing. Hopkins uses this idea to explore the idea of nature and the cycle of life.
The poem is divided into two parts, with the first part focusing on the idea of nature as a Heraclitean fire. Hopkins describes nature as a fire that is constantly burning and changing. He writes, "Nature is the Heraclitean fire and the comfort of the resurrection." This line is significant because it shows the duality of nature. On the one hand, nature is constantly changing, like a fire that is never still. On the other hand, nature provides comfort and hope, like the promise of resurrection.
Hopkins uses vivid imagery to describe nature's constant change. He writes, "The dewdrop on the morning grass / trembles and glistens in the sun, / And is gone." This image is powerful because it shows how something as small and delicate as a dewdrop can be so fleeting. Hopkins is reminding us that everything in nature is temporary and that we should appreciate it while we can.
The second part of the poem focuses on the comfort of the resurrection. Hopkins writes, "Christ - for Christ plays in ten thousand places, / Lovely in limbs, and lovely in eyes not his / To the Father through the features of men's faces." This line is significant because it shows how Christ is present in everything, even in the features of men's faces. Hopkins is reminding us that even though everything in nature is temporary, there is hope for something more significant.
Hopkins uses the metaphor of the phoenix to describe the idea of resurrection. He writes, "And for all this, nature is never spent; / There lives the dearest freshness deep down things; / And though the last lights off the black West went / Oh, morning, at the brown brink eastward, springs." This image is powerful because it shows how even though something may seem dead or gone, there is always the possibility of new life. The phoenix is a mythical bird that is reborn from its ashes, and Hopkins is using this metaphor to show how there is always hope for something new.
Overall, "Poetry that Nature is a Heraclitean Fire and of the Comfort of the Resurrection" is a beautiful poem that captures the essence of nature and the cycle of life. Hopkins uses vivid imagery and metaphors to convey his message, making the poem a delight to read and analyze. The poem reminds us that everything in nature is temporary, but there is always hope for something more significant. Hopkins is reminding us to appreciate the beauty of nature while we can and to have hope for something more significant.
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