Summarize the poem “The Windover.” 

Answer

Summarize the poem “The Windover.” 

Gerard Manley Hopkins’s (1844 – 1889) poem “The Windhover” (1918)  is a beautiful tribute to a bird’s flight. It is a reflection of God’s majesty. In this poem, Hopkins captures the grace, power, and divine connection seen in the hovering. It is a kestrel, also known as a windhover. Here’s the summary of the poem:

The Majestic Flight of the Kestrel/Windhover: Hopkins expresses his wonder at the sight of a windhover flying through the sky. The bird is described as “morning’s minion” and “daylight’s dauphin.” This indicates its favored status and noble grace. Windhover’s ability to balance and ride the air with comfort is marvelously depicted:

I caught this morning morning’s minion, king- 

dom of daylight’s dauphin, dapple-dawn-drawn Falcon.

The Bird’s Mastery and God’s Creation: The poem highlights the windhover’s skill in controlling the wind. It evokes a deep emotional response from the speaker. The bird’s mastery of flight moves Hopkins. He sees it as a reflection of God’s perfection:

My heart in hiding 

Stirred for a bird,—the achieve of, the mastery of the thing!

Connection to Christ and Everyday Beauty: Hopkins makes a profound comparison between the beauty and power of the windhover and the even greater majesty of Christ. He declares that Christ’s divine fire is,

a billion 

Times told lovelier, more dangerous,

This highlights the immense power of divine creation. Hopkins concludes by suggesting that God’s majesty is present in all things, even in simple, everyday moments.

In “The Windhover,” Hopkins uses the image of a Windhover in flight to explore themes of divine beauty and mastery. Through vivid imagery and spiritual reflection, the poem celebrates the awe-inspiring presence of God in both the extraordinary and the ordinary.