Gerard Manley Hopkins

Date of Birth: July 28, 1844

Zodiac Sign: Leo

Date of Death: June 8, 1889

Biography

Gerard Manley Hopkins was an English poet and Jesuit priest, renowned for his innovative use of prosody and his exploration of nature and spirituality in his works. Born on July 28, 1844, in Stratford, Essex, England, Hopkins grew up in a devout Anglican family. He studied classics at Balliol College, Oxford, where he converted to Catholicism under the influence of John Henry Newman. In 1868, Hopkins entered the Jesuit novitiate and later became a priest. Despite his religious vocation, Hopkins continued to write poetry, although much of it remained unpublished during his lifetime. His work is characterized by its use of “sprung rhythm,” a poetic form that mirrors the natural patterns of speech, and by his vivid imagery and exploration of the divine in the natural world. Hopkins’ major works include “The Windhover,” “Pied Beauty,” and “God’s Grandeur.” Hopkins’ poetry did not gain widespread recognition until after his death, when his friend and fellow poet Robert Bridges published a collection of his works in 1918. Today, he is considered one of the most important Victorian poets, and his innovative techniques have influenced numerous writers and poets across generations.

5 Interesting Facts about Gerard Manley Hopkins

1. Gerard Manley Hopkins coined the term “sprung rhythm” to describe his unique poetic meter.

2. He burned many of his early poems upon joining the Jesuit order, believing that poetry and priesthood were incompatible.

3. Hopkins suffered from lifelong bouts of depression, which he described as “the dark night of the soul.”

4. Despite his limited publication during his lifetime, Hopkins’ work has had a lasting impact on modern poetry.

5. His poem “The Wreck of the Deutschland” was inspired by a tragic shipwreck that claimed the lives of five Franciscan nuns.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Gerard Manley Hopkins

1. “The world is charged with the grandeur of God.”

2. “What would the world be, once bereft of wet and wildness? Let them be left, O let them be left, wildness and wet; Long live the weeds and the wilderness yet.”

3. “I am all at once what Christ is, since he was what I am, and this Jack, joke, poor potsherd, patch, matchwood, immortal diamond, is immortal diamond.”

4. “I hold with those who favor fire.”

5. “Nothing is so beautiful as spring—when weeds, in wheels, shoot long and lovely and lush.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

Gerard Manley Hopkins did not accumulate significant wealth during his lifetime. His highest net worth is not documented, as his contributions were primarily literary and spiritual rather than financial.