Pied Beauty

Poetry | Gerard Manley Hopkins
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Give the substance of the poem “Pied Beauty”. 

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Give the substance of the poem “Pied Beauty”. 

Or, Write a summary of the poem “Pied Beauty”.

“Pied Beauty,” written in 1877 by G. M. Hopkins (1844-1889), is a short praise poem to God. The poet praises God for creating the variety and beauty in the world. The word “pied” means having different colours. Hopkins thanks God for all “dappled” or spotted things in nature.

Praise God for Dappled Things: The poet begins by praising God for different spotted things we find in nature. He begins:

“Glory be to God for dappled things –”

He praises God for creating the sky with mixed colours, spotted cows, and the dots on swimming trout (a kind of fish). He also praises the red-brown fallen chestnuts and the beautiful wings of finches. He sees beauty in farmlands. He even praises the tools and clothes used in different trades.

Praise for Variety: Hopkins says all

varieties of things are beautiful. This means things that are different, unique, and unusual are also God’s creations. The poem also mentions contrasts in the world, like

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

Hopkins shows that both good and bad, bright and dark, are part of God’s beautiful creation. At the end, Hopkins says that God never changes, even though His creation is full of change and variety. The poem ends with “Praise Him.” It reminds us to thank God for the beauty and variety in the world.

In short, “Pied Beauty” is a poem that praises God for the colourful, varied, and beautiful things in nature. The poem shows how everything is a sign of God’s glory. 

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Gerard Manley Hopkins
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