"The Voice Crying Out In The Wilderness"
As kingfishers catch fire, dragonflies draw flame;
As tumbled over rim and roundy wells
Stones ring; like each tucked string tells, each hung bell's
Bow swung finds tongue to fling out broad its name;
Each mortal thing does one thing and the same;
Deals out that being indoors each one dwells;
Selves- goes itself, myself it speaks and spells,
Crying What I do is me: for that I came.
I say more : the just man justices;
Keeps grace: that keeps all his goings graces;
Acts in God's eye what in God's eye he is--
Christ. For Christ plays in ten thousand places,
Lovely in limbs, and lovely in eyes not his
To the Father through the features of men's faces.
- Gerard Manley Hopkins
This poem deals with the Calvinistic concept of predestination and the idea that all of of Owen's somewhat strange attributes have been presented to him for a specific purpose. In your response, analyze the literary devices used in the poem (allegory, theme, tone, etc.) and connect them with your own ideas about Owen acting as God's instrument, keeping in mind the different perceptions that the townspeople have about him as a result. Quotes are always delightful!
*This blog is being managed by Meera and Andrea.
12 comments:
Predestination is a Calvinistic concept implored in both the novel "Owen Meany" and the poem by Hopkins, "The Voice Crying Out In The Wilderness". Predestination is the idea that everyone is put on the earth for a reason that has already been decided for them.
The tone of this poem, definitely captures the idea of predestination. "Crying What I do is me: for that I came," illustrates how the tone is an absolute voice, knowing that life is predestined (Line 8).
Owen Meany is God's instrument. He knows his purpose, knows when and how he is going to die. He is well aware that "For that I [he] came". Owen's arms are utilized by God. The poem conveys that "Christ plays in ten thousand places, Lovely in limbs" (Lines 12-13). This statement directly relates to Owen Meany and his noble deed of catching the exploding grenade with his "limbs" in order to save the Vietnemese children during the war.
“The Voice Crying out in the Wilderness” is a poem that draws many parallels with the novel, A Prayer for Owen Meany. A voice is described that could be connected to the character of Owen Meany. Owen Meany is a supernatural being that has been put on this earth to carry out God’s tasks. His life has been predetermined and he knows the exact date of his death.
One of the techniques that Hopkins uses in his poem is repetition. “Lovely in limbs, and lovely in eyes not his” is a line that exhibits such a device (15). The repetition of “Lovely in” emphasizes the extent of God’s divine power in the process of human creation. Also, it is inferred that God uses the “limbs” of people to carry out his tasks. A reference to Owen Meany is also made in this line. His small limbs are the tools of God’s mission. Owen’s arms have immense power. They are capable of killing and protecting. Eventually, they cause his own death because they are separated from his body.
This poem is a really great compliment to the theme of predestination in Owen Meany. It's especially pinned in the second stanza. The poet uses personifcation, "Bow swung fins tongue to flin out broad its name;", to convey a sort of ubiquitous knowledge of all things happening in nature. It follows an allegorical style mimicking, but not paraphrasing the plot of Owen Meany. It's basically a conceit about Owen's internal conflict in accpeting his fate. But at the same time, as seen in the last stanza, Owen is remarkably brave and stoic at times to that which awaits him in the future. He, like christ, "plays in ten thousand places,". His influence is everlasting. His story is told and re-told by the reincarnation of the natural things around him.
Awesome job so far everyone! Coleen, I really liked your statement about his everlasting influence.
Good job, Ashley, Deidre, and Coleen! I know this is a hard poem, but you guys seem to understand its connection to Owen Meany well. Everyone else-don't forget to post by midnight!
This poem draws many parallels to the book Owen Meany, especially to Owen himself. The idea of predestination is very important in both the poem and the book. The idea of predestination is present in the tone of the poem. The poem also shows parallels to the plot and theme of A Prayer of Owen Meany, in Owen' s acceptance of his fate and predestination. It is even inferred that God believes "Christ plays in ten thousand places", just as Owen is depicted in the book. The most noticeable literary device that I noticed at first was alliteration in phrases such as, "kingfishers catch fire, dragonflies draw flame" and "roundy wells".
I noticed the "Lovely in limbs, and lovely in eyes not his" quote immediately because of its obvious tie to the armless theme of the novel. The reoccurring references to predestination are also very in line with the book because of Owen's complete belief that his fate was predetermined by God and that there was nothing he could do about it. The overall tone in the poem is very straight forward and portrays the author as very confident, such as Owen was throughout the book, of his beliefs.
Predestination deals with the belief that God has chosen one's path and given him a future that cannot be altered. Hopkin's poem suggests similar beliefs such as the line "Acts in God's eye what in God's eye he is." Owen Meany also held the belief that God put everyone on the Earth for a reason, his being to die for the sins of others.
This poem relates to A Prayer For Owen Meany because it focuses on the idea of predestination. Just like the dragonflies and kingfishers, Owen was born with a specific purpose. He was to carry out God's plan of saving the Vietmanese children and was given the body to do so.
The phrase "Acts in God's eyes what in God's eye he is--Christ" draws parallels with the novel as well. Owen is percieved to be a Christ-like figure because of his greater pupose in life. He is the instrument of God and acts based on what God needs him to do. Hopkins also uses personification in order to convey the concept of predestination. "Bow swung finds tonque to fling out its name" is an prime example of this poetic device.
Predestination is the idea that a higher being controls the way things happen in life, and that as human mortals, we cannot change anything about it. The concept of predestination is focused on, both in "A Prayer For Owen Meany" and "The Voice Crying Out In The Wilderness", as each work examines the way things are and the purpose of them being that way.
It becomes especially evident that the author of the poem is evaluating predestination in the second stanza, where he says, "Each mortal thing does one thing and the same; Deals out that being indoors each one dwells; Selves- goes itself, myself it speaks and spells,
Crying What I do is me: for that I came." Through these captured thoughts, it is clear that the speaker in the poem has identified that he or she has no control over the way he or she is. Through this tone given to the speaker, it is evident that the author accepts the idea and for the most part comprehends it.
This is similar to "Owen Meany" in the sense that Owen clearly accepted and understood not only predestination, but his specific purpose in life, which was to serve the Earth in such a way as Christ.
Thanks to all of you who responded! The poem definitely ties in with Owen Meany and predestination. We will not be having any more BLOGS until after spring break.
Post a Comment