Pied Beauty : Literary devices
Pied Beauty is a notable literary work by Gerard Manley Hopkins. A complete discussion of this literary work is given, which will help you enhance your literary skills and prepare for the exam. Read the Main texts, Key info, Summary, Themes, Characters, Literary devices, Quotations, Notes, and various study materials of Pied Beauty.
Literary devices
Figures of Speech
- Alliteration: Hopkins repeats the same consonant sounds at the beginning of words to give the poem a musical rhythm. Example: “With swift, slow; sweet, sour” — the repeated ‘s’ sounds make the line smooth and musical. It also shows the contrast in nature in a flowing way.
- Imagery: Hopkins uses vivid and descriptive words to help us see and feel the beauty in nature. Example: “Fresh-firecoal chestnut-falls” — we can imagine the reddish-brown chestnuts falling like burning coals. This strong image makes us feel the beauty in even small, simple things.
- Oxymoron: Hopkins places opposite words together to show contrast and variety in nature. Example: “Swift, slow; sweet, sour” — these opposite pairs show how nature is full of differences, and yet all are beautiful. This makes us appreciate the mixed and opposite qualities of the world.
- Symbols:
- Dappled Things: Symbolize variety, imperfection, and beauty in diversity. These include spotted animals, mixed-colored skies, and patterned fish—all showing that not everything has to be perfect to be beautiful.
- Sky and Clouds: Symbolize the ever-changing nature of life and God’s creativity.
- Fish with Fins: Symbolize uniqueness and detail in creation.
- Landscape and Farmland: Symbolize human interaction with nature.
- God (at the end): Symbolizes the eternal and unchanging beauty behind all changing things. Though nature is full of variety, God’s glory is everlasting and perfect.
Main Message:
- God made all things beautiful.
- Even strange things are full of beauty.