Notes on the Poem 'God's Grandeur': The Italian/Petrarchan Sonnet

 

This is a sonnet and specifically an Italian/Petrarchan Sonnet. This type of sonnet has:

•an Octave (eight lines) and Sestet (six lines)

•Presents some contrast of setting/theme (For example darkness vs. light) 

•Transition occurs in the 9th line

God’s Grandeur

By Gerard Manley Hopkins (U.K. 1844-89)

The world is charged with the grandeur of God.

It will flame out, like shining from shook foil;

It gathers to a greatness, like the ooze of oil

Crushed. Why do men then not reck his rod?

Generations have trod, have trod, have trod;

And all is seared with trade; bleared, smeared with toil;

And wears man’s smudge and shares man’s smell: the soil

Is bare now, nor can foot feel, being shod.

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 –

Because the Holy Ghost over the bent

World broods with warm breast and with ah! Bright wings.

Poetry Analysis: God’s Grandeur

Themes: Nature and Religion.

The poet asserts that the grandeur (splendor or greatness) of God is shown in the dependability of nature, in spite of mankind’s insensitivity towards and disconnect from nature. But the poem also indicates two aspects of that grandeur: power, with its authority, and love, with its compassion.

This poem follows the rhyming pattern of the Italian (or Petrarchan) sonnet, with an octave rhymed abbaabba and a sestet rhymed cdcdcd. He effectively uses this type of poetry to make a statement or draw a contrast between man’s neglect of nature (octave) and nature’s ability to replenish herself (sestet). The poet also makes effective use of alliteration, internal rhyme, and unusual imagery.

Although the language is somewhat complicated, the tone of the poem is didactic (intended to instruct). In the octave, we are being addressed by someone who begins with an assertion about God. He explains himself with similes (lines 2-3), and poses a question about man’s disobedience in line 4) supported by evidence in lines 5-8). In the sestet, he reassures his audience that his first statement remains valid, with exclamations such as ‘Oh’ and ‘ah!” adding to the realism of the lesson.

The poem is expressive of God’s presence in the natural world even through man’s exploits

have served to destroy nature and its freshness and purity. To the poet God’s grandeur is

ever pervasive, revealing itself like ‘flame from shook foil’. The word ‘flame’ is significant

as it conveys the brilliance of God as the shining light that foil gives off.

The poet employs the image of an electric charge, which develops into a flame or a light

suggesting the power of his greatness.

God’s light assumes a richness like the ‘ooze of oil crushed’ or pressed to its finest quality.

As the oil gathers strength to richness so does God’s greatness. The images are all interwoven and expanded to express the grandeur of God. In stanza 2, though man is aware of God’s greatness he still exploits through commence and industrialization, blemishing the earth and destroying the freshness of nature.

The repetition,  “generations have trod, have trod, have trod” conveys man’s persistence in his ruthless exploitation. The persistent repetition of words ‘have trod’ leading to ‘smeared and bleared, tells of the poet’s resentment or disgust at man’s actions. ‘Man’s smudge’ and ‘smell’ are expressive of a polluted and squalid environment, all due to man’s uncaring attitude. Unthinking man cares not about the destruction he leaves; he seems not aware of what he has done to nature as is expressed in the words ‘nor can food feel,’ being shod.’

The language of stanza one, lines 5-8, reveals not only disgust but a protest against man’s

ruthlessness. The poet reacts to man’s inhumanity and indignity with reasoned calmness,

a protest without rage or anger for he is consoled by nature’s presence as described in

stanza two (2).

In stanza two (2), the poet tells that God’s presence or power through nature is renewable

or invigorating inspite of man’s destruction. Nature is described as indestructible or

inexhaustible:

For all this, nature is never spent

There lives a dearest freshness deep down things.

The poem ends on a positive note, an assurance that springs from the poet’s faith as he

is convinced of the Holy Ghost’s presence with vitality and life and all that is luminous,”

“warm breaths and bright wings” .