FELIX RANDAL-Gerard Manley Hopkins
Felix Randal the farrier, O he is dead then? my duty all ended,
Who have watched his mould of man, big-boned and hardy-handsome
Pining, pining, till time when reason rambled in it and some
Fatal four disorders, fleshed there, all contended?
Sickness broke him. Impatient he cursed at first, but mended
Being anointed and all; though a heavenlier heart began some
Months earlier, since I had our sweet reprieve and ransom
Tendered to him. Ah well, God rest him all road ever he offended!
This seeing the sick endear them to us, us too it endears
My tongue had taught my thee comfort, touch had quenched thy tears
My tears that touched my heart, child, Felix, poor Felix Randal;
How far from then forethought of, all thy more boisterous years,
When thou at the random grim forge, powerful amidst peers,
Didst fettle for the great grey drayhorse his bright and battering sandal!
, FELIX RANDAL
Questions and answers
Stanza 1
1. Explain how the words “duty" and “watched” help the reader to
understand who the speaker is.
The word “duty” could suggest someone who has an obligation to Felix.
Since the speaker does not mourn Felix's loss in an overly emotional way
(for example, like a Wife would), and because the speaker talks about how
he "watched" over the man whilst his health was getting worse, suggests
that he is a priest.
2. Refer to line 2: “mould of man, big boned and hardy-handsome”. Identify
the sound device used and comment on how this conveys an image of
Felix Randal.
Alliteration is used in line 2: m alliteration in "mould" and "man, "b”
alliteration in “big boned” and “h” alliteration in hardy-handsome". These
drawn out and heavily- emphasised sounds convey an image of someone
who is larger than average/well- built/sturdy.
3. Refer to lines 1-4
Explore the possible reasons for the poets use of the question mark in
these lines.
The speaker is initially surprised/dismayed at the death of a parishioner,
Felix Randall, (“oh he is dead then?”) but also appears to be
detached/distant/ unaffected/ indifferent and aloof when he asks who had
witnessed the farrier fight “four disorders” that took his life- the question
mark seems to be part of the introduction and supplies information and
merely reports on the passing of this man an impersonal matter.
Felix Randal the farrier, O he is dead then? my duty all ended,
Who have watched his mould of man, big-boned and hardy-handsome
Pining, pining, till time when reason rambled in it and some
Fatal four disorders, fleshed there, all contended?
Sickness broke him. Impatient he cursed at first, but mended
Being anointed and all; though a heavenlier heart began some
Months earlier, since I had our sweet reprieve and ransom
Tendered to him. Ah well, God rest him all road ever he offended!
This seeing the sick endear them to us, us too it endears
My tongue had taught my thee comfort, touch had quenched thy tears
My tears that touched my heart, child, Felix, poor Felix Randal;
How far from then forethought of, all thy more boisterous years,
When thou at the random grim forge, powerful amidst peers,
Didst fettle for the great grey drayhorse his bright and battering sandal!
, FELIX RANDAL
Questions and answers
Stanza 1
1. Explain how the words “duty" and “watched” help the reader to
understand who the speaker is.
The word “duty” could suggest someone who has an obligation to Felix.
Since the speaker does not mourn Felix's loss in an overly emotional way
(for example, like a Wife would), and because the speaker talks about how
he "watched" over the man whilst his health was getting worse, suggests
that he is a priest.
2. Refer to line 2: “mould of man, big boned and hardy-handsome”. Identify
the sound device used and comment on how this conveys an image of
Felix Randal.
Alliteration is used in line 2: m alliteration in "mould" and "man, "b”
alliteration in “big boned” and “h” alliteration in hardy-handsome". These
drawn out and heavily- emphasised sounds convey an image of someone
who is larger than average/well- built/sturdy.
3. Refer to lines 1-4
Explore the possible reasons for the poets use of the question mark in
these lines.
The speaker is initially surprised/dismayed at the death of a parishioner,
Felix Randall, (“oh he is dead then?”) but also appears to be
detached/distant/ unaffected/ indifferent and aloof when he asks who had
witnessed the farrier fight “four disorders” that took his life- the question
mark seems to be part of the introduction and supplies information and
merely reports on the passing of this man an impersonal matter.
