Spring by Gerard Manley Hopkins

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Introduction to the Poem

• Spring by Gerard Manley Hopkins is a sonnet that celebrates the beauty of nature and reflects on its deeper spiritual significance.
• The poem is part of Hopkins' characteristic style, known as Sprung Rhythm, which mimics natural speech.
• Hopkins connects nature's renewal in spring to themes of innocence, purity, and divine grace.

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Themes

The Beauty of Nature

• Vivid imagery portrays spring as an idyllic, unspoiled season.
• The poem describes nature in fresh, energetic terms, highlighting its vibrancy and perfection.

Religious Reflection & Innocence

• Hopkins links nature's beauty to God's presence, seeing spring as a divine gift.
• The reference to Eden suggests a longing for the purity of creation before sin.

Transience & Human Fallibility

• Despite the joy in nature, there is an underlying concern that beauty is fleeting.
• The mention of sin hints at the impermanence of innocence and the inevitability of human corruption.

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Structure & Language

Sonnet Form

• The poem follows the Petrarchan sonnet structure: an octave (problem or scene) and a sestet (reflection or resolution).
• Hopkins uses Sprung Rhythm to create a musical, dynamic flow.

Imagery & Sensory Language

• Rich sensory details make the poem immersive (weeds shoot long and lovely and lush).
• Visual, auditory, and tactile imagery emphasize the fullness of life.

Religious Allusions & Symbolism

• Lambs, Eden, and sin are religious symbols.
• Nature is a metaphor for divine creation and spiritual renewal.

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Key Quotes & Analysis

1. "Nothing is so beautiful as Spring" – Establishes an enthusiastic, joyful tone.
2. "When weeds, in wheels, shoot long and lovely and lush" – Vivid natural imagery using alliteration and rhythm.
3. "A strain of the earth's sweet being in the beginning" – Links nature to divine creation.
4. "Have, get, before it cloy" – Urgency in appreciating nature before it fades.
5. "It strikes like lightning to hear him sing" – Intensity of natural beauty and its emotional impact.

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Exam Tips

• Focus on how Hopkins uses language to evoke nature's beauty.
• Discuss the religious and philosophical interpretations of the poem.
• Analyze the impact of Sprung Rhythm and how it enhances the poem's meaning.
• Compare Spring with other poems that explore nature's power and spirituality.

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