Discuss Hopkins’s appreciation of nature.

Or, how does Hopkins combine the themes of nature and religion in his poems?

Gerard Manley Hopkins (1844–1889) was a deeply religious poet and also a great lover of nature. He was a Jesuit priest. He praised God and His creation in his poems. In his poetry, nature and religion are closely connected. Hopkins does not describe nature only for its beauty. He sees nature as a sign of God’s presence and power. Through birds, colours, seasons, and ordinary things, he shows how nature helps us understand God.

Nature as God’s Creation: Hopkins believes that nature is created by God. Nature shows God’s glory. In “Pied Beauty” (written in 1877), he praises God for all kinds of natural objects. He thanks God for “dappled things,” which means things with mixed colours and patterns.

“Glory be to God for dappled things –”

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He talks about the sky with two colours, spotted cows, swimming trout (fish), fallen chestnuts, and the wings of finches. All these natural objects show variety and beauty. Hopkins believes that every small thing in nature is a gift from God. By praising nature, he is actually praising God.

Variety and Beauty in Nature: Hopkins especially loves variety in nature. He does not praise only beautiful or perfect things. He also praises strange and uneven things. In “Pied Beauty,” he praises,

“Swift, slow; sweet, sour; adazzle, dim.”

This shows that both good and bad, bright and dark, fast and slow, are part of God’s creation. Hopkins teaches that God’s beauty can be seen in all kinds of natural things. Nature, with all its differences, shows the greatness of God’s creative power.

Nature Leading to Religious Feeling: In “The Windhover” (written in 1877), Hopkins describes a falcon flying in the morning sky. He watches the bird dive, glide, and turn in the air. He describes the bird as the morning’s favorite and the prince of daylight.

…Morning's minion, king-
dom of daylight's dauphin…”

The beauty and power of the bird fill him with joy. This natural sight leads him to think about Christ. The bird becomes a sign of God’s glory. In this poem, a simple natural scene turns into a deep religious experience.

Nature and Human Life: Hopkins also connects nature with human life and religion. In “Spring and Fall” (1880), a young child cries when she sees leaves falling from trees. The falling leaves are part of nature. But they also remind the poet of human life and death. Just as leaves fall, humans also must die one day. As he writes:

“It is the blight man was born for.”

So, the natural scene of falling leaves shows that sorrow, change, and death are part of God’s plan for human beings.

Nature and Suffering: In “Felix Randal” (1880), Hopkins shows nature and religion through human life and work. Felix was a farrier who worked with horses. Horses and hard work are part of everyday life and nature. When Felix becomes sick and dies, the poet shows how suffering brings him closer to God. The speaker, who is a priest, prays for Felix:

“God rest him all road ever he offended!”

In conclusion, Hopkins beautifully combines nature and religion in his poems. He sees nature as a clear sign of God’s glory, power, and love. Through birds, colours, seasons, and human life, he shows that God is present everywhere. His appreciation of nature is deeply religious. His poems teach us to see God in the small and ordinary things around us and to praise Him always.

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