Pied Beauty
‘Pied Beauty’ Essay
The poem, a hymn and partial sonnet, ‘Pied Beauty’ is initially about praising God due to the beauty of the world as the word ‘pied’ suggests different shades of color which can then lead to a variety. The title itself, Pied Beauty, indicates the variety of beauty. The poem indicates that the beauty in the world is all due to the one ‘whose beauty is past change,’ God, giving us a reason as to why we should ‘praise him.’ The constant and remaining theme in this poem was praising God. The poet, Gerard Manley Hopkins, delivered his overall message by distinguishing between the variety existing in contrast, especially in the second stanza and ‘whose beauty is past change,’ making it constant, in the first stanza. This poem weighs heavily on religion as it talks about God fathering ‘forth’ beauty that is constant such as natural objects. Hopkins’ point of view on this poem characterizes him to be a very religious man who sees God as the Ultimate. In a world that is ephemeral, Hopkins’ sees God as beyond all of that, giving the readers a sense of stability, as his ‘beauty is past change.’ The last line ‘praise him,’ slowed the rhythm down from the use of sibilance which created a good balance. Furthermore, in the second stanza of the poem, Hopkins touched on the importance of contrast, as without it, we would not know what is good or bad. Hopkins’ tone for the poem is proud and positive, escalating with the rhythm in the second stanza due to the use of alliteration and sibilance.
The overall message Hopkins has conveyed throughout the poem was to ‘praise’ God and delivers it in such as way that creates images and a sense of rhythm throughout the poem. In the first stanza, the line lengths are mostly the same with the shortest line, in the first stanza being the first line as it creates simplicity. Firstly, the first line, ‘glory be to God for dappled things,’ already show the importance of God and how he deserves praise because he is
The poem, a hymn and partial sonnet, ‘Pied Beauty’ is initially about praising God due to the beauty of the world as the word ‘pied’ suggests different shades of color which can then lead to a variety. The title itself, Pied Beauty, indicates the variety of beauty. The poem indicates that the beauty in the world is all due to the one ‘whose beauty is past change,’ God, giving us a reason as to why we should ‘praise him.’ The constant and remaining theme in this poem was praising God. The poet, Gerard Manley Hopkins, delivered his overall message by distinguishing between the variety existing in contrast, especially in the second stanza and ‘whose beauty is past change,’ making it constant, in the first stanza. This poem weighs heavily on religion as it talks about God fathering ‘forth’ beauty that is constant such as natural objects. Hopkins’ point of view on this poem characterizes him to be a very religious man who sees God as the Ultimate. In a world that is ephemeral, Hopkins’ sees God as beyond all of that, giving the readers a sense of stability, as his ‘beauty is past change.’ The last line ‘praise him,’ slowed the rhythm down from the use of sibilance which created a good balance. Furthermore, in the second stanza of the poem, Hopkins touched on the importance of contrast, as without it, we would not know what is good or bad. Hopkins’ tone for the poem is proud and positive, escalating with the rhythm in the second stanza due to the use of alliteration and sibilance.
The overall message Hopkins has conveyed throughout the poem was to ‘praise’ God and delivers it in such as way that creates images and a sense of rhythm throughout the poem. In the first stanza, the line lengths are mostly the same with the shortest line, in the first stanza being the first line as it creates simplicity. Firstly, the first line, ‘glory be to God for dappled things,’ already show the importance of God and how he deserves praise because he is