Gerard Manley Hopkins (1844-1889) was a pioneering English poet and Jesuit priest known for his innovative use of sprung rhythm and vivid imagery, profoundly influencing modern poetry.
Biography
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Gerard Manley Hopkins |
| Birth Date | 28 July 1844 |
| Death Date | 8 June 1889 |
| Nationality | English |
| Profession | Poet, Jesuit Priest |
| Notable Contributions | Innovator in prosody, concept of sprung rhythm, vivid use of imagery and nature |
| Posthumous Fame | Recognized among leading English poets, work published by Robert Bridges, influenced 20th-century poets |
| Influence on 20th Century Poets | T. S. Eliot, Dylan Thomas, W. H. Auden, Stephen Spender, Cecil Day-Lewis |
Early Life
Gerard Manley Hopkins, born on July 28, 1844, in Stratford, Essex, England, was the eldest of nine children in a deeply religious and artistic family. His father, Manley Hopkins, was a marine insurance adjuster and a published poet, while his mother, Catherine Smith Hopkins, was devoutly religious, which influenced Gerard’s spiritual development. Raised in a nurturing environment, Hopkins displayed a keen interest in literature and the arts from an early age. The family later moved to Hampstead, a more rural suburb of London, where Hopkins attended Highgate School and later Balliol College, Oxford. His early years were marked by a blend of intellectual rigor and spiritual exploration, which laid the foundation for his future works as a poet and Jesuit priest.
Family
| Name | Relation | Information |
|---|---|---|
| Manley Hopkins | Father | Manley Hopkins was a marine insurance adjuster, and an enthusiastic promoter of the arts. He authored a book on insurance and was known for his support of his son’s poetic talents. |
| Catherine Hopkins | Mother | Catherine Hopkins was a deeply religious woman with a strong literary interest, which she passed on to her children. She played a significant role in Gerard’s early education and moral upbringing. |
| Everard Hopkins | Brother | Everard Hopkins was an artist and illustrator. He shared his brother’s artistic inclinations, though in a different medium. |
| Arthur Hopkins | Brother | Arthur Hopkins was also an artist, known for his landscape paintings and illustrations. He contributed to various publications and exhibited his work in art galleries. |
| Cecil Hopkins | Brother | Cecil Hopkins pursued a career in the law. He was known for his analytical mind and dedication to his profession. |
| Kate Hopkins | Sister | Kate Hopkins shared her family’s literary and artistic interests. She was known for her involvement in local cultural activities. |
| Grace Hopkins | Sister | Grace Hopkins was known for her gentle nature and religious devotion. She played a supportive role in her family’s artistic and literary pursuits. |
Height, Weight, And Other Body Measurements
| Measurement | Value |
|---|---|
| Height | Unknown |
| Weight | Unknown |
| Chest Size | Unknown |
| Waist Size | Unknown |
| Hip Size | Unknown |
Note: Detailed physical measurements for Gerard Manley Hopkins are not widely documented or available.
Wife/husband / Girlfriend/boyfriend
Gerard Manley Hopkins (1844-1889) was an English poet and Jesuit priest, known for his innovative use of prosody and his vivid imagery. Given his vocation as a Jesuit priest, he took vows of celibacy and thus did not marry or have romantic relationships.
Gerard Manley Hopkins was not married and had no romantic partner due to his commitment to his religious vows.
Given his religious commitments and his adherence to the vows of celibacy, Gerard Manley Hopkins did not have any previous romantic relationships.
Career, Achievements And Controversies
Gerard Manley Hopkins (1844–1889) was an English poet and Jesuit priest, whose posthumous fame grew significantly in the 20th century due to his innovative use of prosody and his striking imagery. Hopkins is considered one of the most important poets of the Victorian era.
How He Became Famous
Hopkins became famous posthumously, primarily due to the publication of his work by his friend, the poet Robert Bridges, who became Poet Laureate of the United Kingdom. Hopkins’ unique style, including his use of “sprung rhythm,” garnered significant attention and admiration from literary scholars and poets alike.
Career Start And Popular Works
Hopkins began his career as a poet while studying at Balliol College, Oxford, where he converted to Roman Catholicism under the influence of John Henry Newman. His early works include “The Habit of Perfection” and “Heaven-Haven.” After joining the Jesuit order, he initially stopped writing poetry but resumed it later, producing some of his best-known works:
- “The Wreck of the Deutschland” (1875)
- “God’s Grandeur” (1877)
- “The Windhover” (1877)
- “Pied Beauty” (1877)
- “Carrion Comfort” (1885)
Awards
Hopkins did not receive any awards during his lifetime, as his work was not widely published or recognized until after his death. However, his influence on modern poetry and his recognition as a pioneering figure in English literature serve as a testament to his enduring legacy.
Hopkins’ life and work were not without controversy:
- Religious Conversion: His conversion to Roman Catholicism was a significant and controversial decision, especially given the Anglican context of his upbringing and education at Oxford. This conversion led to a rift with his family and friends.
- Suppression of Work: Hopkins’ decision to enter the Jesuit order resulted in a period where he suppressed his poetic output, believing that his religious vocation was incompatible with his literary ambitions. This suppression of his work during his lifetime meant that much of his poetry was not published until after his death.
- Innovative Style: His innovative use of “sprung rhythm” and unconventional diction initially perplexed many readers and critics, and his work was not widely accepted until long after his death.
Despite these controversies, Hopkins’ work has since been celebrated for its originality and depth, and he is now regarded as one of the great poets of the Victorian era.
Faq
Gerard Manley Hopkins (1844-1889) was an English poet and Jesuit priest, known for his innovative use of prosody and imagery in poetry. His works were largely unpublished during his lifetime but have since gained significant recognition and influence in modern poetry.
Hopkins is best known for his unique style of poetry, particularly his use of “sprung rhythm,” a meter that mimics the natural rhythms of speech. Some of his most famous poems include “The Windhover,” “Pied Beauty,” and “God’s Grandeur.”
“Sprung rhythm” is a poetic rhythm designed to imitate natural speech patterns. It contrasts with traditional poetic meters, which have a more regular and predictable structure. Hopkins developed and popularized this approach, which allows for varied stress patterns within a line of poetry.
Hopkins’ poetry often explores themes of nature, religion, and the divine. His work reflects a profound sense of spirituality and a deep appreciation for the natural world, often infused with his own religious beliefs and experiences as a Jesuit priest.
Although Hopkins wrote many of his most famous poems in the 1870s and 1880s, they were not published until after his death. His friend and fellow poet Robert Bridges published a collection of Hopkins’ work in 1918, which brought his poetry to a wider audience.
Hopkins has had a lasting impact on modern poetry through his innovative use of language and rhythm. His techniques, particularly sprung rhythm, have influenced many poets and writers who followed him, contributing to the development of free verse and other modernist forms.
