“God’s Grandeur” was written by Gerard Hopkins in 1877 and deals with Hopkins’ feelings
about God's presence and power and how he couldn’t understand how people inhabiting earth
could refuse God. Gerard Manley Hopkins uses diction, assonance and onomatopoeia in
“God’s Grandeur” to illustrate God’s power and ability to forgive mankind despite of his flaws.
Hopkins' word choice expresses wonder towards the greatness of God and the continuity of
nature. Words like "grandeur" and "flame out" show the power God has revealed in His
creation, while “seared," "bleared," "smeared," "smudge," and "smell" add to man's inability to
recognize God's greatness and man’s tendency to destroy it. In the last line, "warm breast" and
"bright wings" give a sense of hope that God’s creation will make it past man’s destructions.
Assonance is used in "seared, bleared, smeared" and represents Hopkin's views on the
industrial era - known to be dirty from factories' pollutants and you feel Hopkins's disgust for
these pollutants by the unpleasant sounds these words make.
Line 5 is an example of onomatopoeia and "have trod, have trod, have trod” shares Hopkins’
frustration. This line’s repetition of “trod” gives a visual image of "generations" marching
through nature destroying everything. Hopkins contradicts his thoughts as he has a feeling of
relief and hope for humanity; and has God’s forgiveness by saying "ah!"
Hopkins is upset about people’s unawareness of God’s presence. Although he admires God,
he feels hopelessness for humanity as they’ve lost connection with God and nature, but is
convinced there’s hope as God’s presence is everlasting. I believe Hopkins finds it important
that humanity will eventually reconnect with God through prayers and Church and be one
with nature again. Although Hopkins finds people’s lives too busy to notice the damage
they’ve done but nature can’t be destroyed, as it will always shine because God’s presence
and love will continually restore it.
Word Count: 313 (must be 200 max)
about God's presence and power and how he couldn’t understand how people inhabiting earth
could refuse God. Gerard Manley Hopkins uses diction, assonance and onomatopoeia in
“God’s Grandeur” to illustrate God’s power and ability to forgive mankind despite of his flaws.
Hopkins' word choice expresses wonder towards the greatness of God and the continuity of
nature. Words like "grandeur" and "flame out" show the power God has revealed in His
creation, while “seared," "bleared," "smeared," "smudge," and "smell" add to man's inability to
recognize God's greatness and man’s tendency to destroy it. In the last line, "warm breast" and
"bright wings" give a sense of hope that God’s creation will make it past man’s destructions.
Assonance is used in "seared, bleared, smeared" and represents Hopkin's views on the
industrial era - known to be dirty from factories' pollutants and you feel Hopkins's disgust for
these pollutants by the unpleasant sounds these words make.
Line 5 is an example of onomatopoeia and "have trod, have trod, have trod” shares Hopkins’
frustration. This line’s repetition of “trod” gives a visual image of "generations" marching
through nature destroying everything. Hopkins contradicts his thoughts as he has a feeling of
relief and hope for humanity; and has God’s forgiveness by saying "ah!"
Hopkins is upset about people’s unawareness of God’s presence. Although he admires God,
he feels hopelessness for humanity as they’ve lost connection with God and nature, but is
convinced there’s hope as God’s presence is everlasting. I believe Hopkins finds it important
that humanity will eventually reconnect with God through prayers and Church and be one
with nature again. Although Hopkins finds people’s lives too busy to notice the damage
they’ve done but nature can’t be destroyed, as it will always shine because God’s presence
and love will continually restore it.
Word Count: 313 (must be 200 max)
