Pied Beauty
Glory be to God for dappled things –
For skies of couple-colour as a brinded cow;
For rose-moles all in stipple upon trout that swim;
Fresh-firecoal chestnut-falls; finches’ wings;
Landscape plotted and pieced – fold, fallow, and plough;
And all trades, their gear and tackle and trim.All things counter, original, spare, strange;
Whatever is fickle, freckled (who knows how?)
With swift, slow; sweet, sour; adazzle, dim;
He fathers-forth whose beauty is past change:
Praise him.
Summary of the Poem Pied Beauty
- Popularity of “Pied Beauty”: “Pied Beauty” is a celebrated lyrical poem penned by Gerard Manley Hopkins, a prominent Victorian poet. The poem is a vibrant expression of praise for God’s creation, first published posthumously in 1890 in the collection Poems, though written in 1877. It acknowledges the magnificence of God’s work in the universe and highlights the beautiful diversity found within it. The poem’s enduring appeal lies in its glorification of God’s power manifested through a myriad of diverse and beautiful forms.
- “Pied Beauty” as a Praise to God: At its heart, this poem is an act of worship. The speaker offers praise to God for creating things that are “dappled” and “pied” – patterned, multi‑coloured, and varied. The poem celebrates the transient nature of the world, arguing that all things change except the enduring beauty of God. As an offering of gratitude, the speaker catalogs the myriad creations of God, encompassing the seas, plants, animals, the tools of human craft, and the landscapes we shape. Through this catalog, Hopkins conveys that God is the source of all creation and therefore worthy of all praise.
- Major Themes in “Pied Beauty”: The poem revolves around the ephemerality of nature and the eternal nature of God. Hopkins masterfully weaves these themes together using rich diction and sophisticated literary devices. He begins by directly praising God for the “dappled things” of the natural world and then provides a detailed list of examples. Through this exploration, he argues that every entity within the universe possesses its own unique beauty, and thus, God deserves our unending praise.
Analysis of Literary Devices in “Pied Beauty”
Literary devices are the tools writers use to imbue their work with meaning and artistry. They allow writers to distinguish their work and captivate readers with carefully crafted language. Hopkins expertly utilizes several literary devices in “Pied Beauty” to convey his profound religious beliefs and appreciation for God’s creation. Let’s examine some of these devices in detail:
- Alliteration: The repetition of initial consonant sounds. Hopkins uses alliteration to create musicality and emphasis. For example, in the line “With swift, slow; sweet, sour; adazzle, dim,” the repeated ‘s’ and ‘d’ sounds contribute to a flowing rhythm.
- Metaphor: An implied comparison between two unlike things. In the line “For rose-moles all in stipple upon trout that swim,” Hopkins compares the markings on a trout to moles, creating a vivid visual image and highlighting the intricate patterns found in nature.
- Consonance: The repetition of consonant sounds within words. The line “Landscape plotted and pieced – fold, fallow, and plough” demonstrates consonance with the repeated ‘l’ and ‘d’ sounds, again contributing to the poem’s musicality and rhythmic flow.
- Anaphora: The repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses. Hopkins utilizes anaphora with the repeated use of “For” in the opening lines – “For skies… For rose-moles… For fresh-firecoal…” – to emphasize the abundance and variety of God’s creations.
- Simile: A direct comparison using “like” or “as.” The line “For skies of couple-colour as a brinded cow” employs a simile, comparing the patterned colouring of the sky to the markings on a brindled cow, creating a striking and memorable image.
- Imagery: The use of vivid language to appeal to the senses. Hopkins masterfully employs imagery, creating a vibrant and sensory experience for the reader. Examples include “For skies of couple-colour as a brinded cow,” “Landscape plotted and pieced,” and “Fresh-firecoal chestnut-falls; finches’ wings,” all painting a rich visual picture.
- Assonance: The repetition of vowel sounds within words. The line “Glory be to God for dappled things” showcases assonance with the short ‘o’ sound in “God,” “for,” and “dappled.”
The skillful deployment of these literary devices allows Hopkins to effectively convey his deep religious convictions and his profound appreciation for the beauty and diversity of God’s creation.
Analysis of Poetic Devices in “Pied Beauty”
Poetic devices are techniques used by poets to enhance the aesthetic and meaning of their work. While some overlap with literary devices, certain techniques are unique to the art of poetry. Let’s explore the poetic devices Hopkins employs in “Pied Beauty”:
- Stanza: A group of lines forming a unit in a poem. “Pied Beauty” is composed of two stanzas: a sestet (six lines) and a quintain (five lines).
- Sestet: A six-line stanza. The first stanza of “Pied Beauty” functions as a sestet, establishing the poem’s central idea and introducing a catalog of God’s creations.
- Quintain: A five-line stanza. The second stanza of “Pied Beauty” is a quintain, offering a concise reflection on the fleeting nature of the world and the enduring beauty of God.
- Rhyme Scheme: The poem does not follow a consistent rhyme scheme. The end words of the first stanza – “things,” “cow,” “swim,” “falls,” “plough,” “trim” – are all different, and the second stanza’s end words likewise vary, giving the poem a free‑verse feel.
- Sprung Rhythm: A poetic meter developed by Hopkins, characterized by variable numbers of syllables per foot, with each foot containing one stressed syllable. Hopkins uses sprung rhythm to create a dynamic and energetic rhythm, mirroring the vibrancy of nature. For example, consider the line “Fresh fire-coal chest-nut-falls; finches’,” where the stresses fall on different syllables, creating a unique and compelling rhythm.
These poetic devices, combined with Hopkins’ masterful use of language, contribute to the poem’s unique and enduring appeal.
Quotes to be Used
The following lines from “Pied Beauty” are particularly evocative and can be used to appreciate the beauty of nature or to express religious faith:
Glory be to God for dappled things –
For skies of couple-colour as a brinded cow;
For rose-moles all in stipple upon trout that swim;
Fresh-firecoal chestnut-falls; finches’ wings;
Landscape plotted and pieced – fold, fallow, and plough;
And all trades, their gear and tackle and trim.
These lines capture the essence of the poem’s celebration of God’s creation and can serve as a source of inspiration and wonder.