Student Question

What does "God's Grandeur" suggest about the presence of God?

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Regarding the presence of God, the poem "God's Grandeur" by Gerard Manley Hopkins suggests that God is ever-present, that God's presence takes different forms, and that if people ignore God's presence by giving too much attention to money or their work, life becomes more difficult for them.

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In the poem "God's Grandeur" by Gerard Manley Hopkins, the poet suggests that God is always present, that this presence is multi-faceted, and that sometimes the world suffers and people's lives become more difficult when they ignore this presence.

The first line tells readers that the world is filled up with the grandeur of God's presence. The poet then suggests that this presence manifests in different ways. Sometimes people see quick flashes of God's brilliance, just as if you hold a piece of foil up to the sunlight you will see flashes of light. Other times, God's presence and goodness is shown more slowly and with effort, as when olives need to be crushed over a period of time to bring forth delicious olive oil.

In the fourth line, "reck" means to be concerned about, and "rod" means judgments. The poet is asking why, if God is ever-present, people are not concerned about the consequences of their actions. He then describes human behavior that harms nature and causes people to ignore God. These distractions include trade, which involves putting business and economical considerations before God in importance, and toil, which means focusing too much on hard work to make a living.

The second stanza, though, expresses a note of optimism despite the distractions of humankind. Nature renews itself and remains fresh, and although sunlight fades at night, morning is not far off. Finally, the Holy Ghost, the spirit of God, is always present to protect and nurture the Earth and its people.

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