The Windhover

Poetry | Gerard Manley Hopkins

Describe “The Windhover” as a sonnet.

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Describe The Windhover as a sonnet A sonnet is a -line lyric poem G M Hopkins - The Windhover is a Petrarchan Italian sonnet It has lines which can be divided into two parts octave and sestet The first eight lines are called an octave and the last six lines are called a sestet In a typical sonnet the octave presents or describes something In the sestet we find a deeper meaning or the solution to a problem We find this pattern in The Windhover too The Octave This part describes the windhover a type of falcon bird flying in the sky Hopkins uses amazing powerful words to show the bird's beauty He shows the bird s strength as it rides the wind and dives He writes Morning's minion king- dom of daylight's dauphin He calls it dauphin like a prince and favorite of the morning This shows the windhover

is very special and majestic The poet feels wonder watching it The Sestet The poem shifts to talk about Jesus Christ in this part The bird's stunning flight is like a sign pointing towards God's glory The windhover is an example of the beauty and majesty of God s creation Hopkins says Christ is more powerful beautiful and bright We can find God s fire even in ordinary simple things Rhythm Rhyme Scheme A sonnet maintains a rhyme scheme or a musical rhythm In The Windhover Hopkins rhythm is unusual He uses his special sprung rhythm in this poem which is bouncy energetic and lively This style helps to show the energy of the falcon s flight In short The Windhover is a sonnet with octave and sestet Hopkins uses this form to show the beauty of the falcon and to connect it with God s glory The poem shows how something beautiful in nature can make us think about God

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