tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11257594.post1076490097737951135..comments2023-10-21T04:54:20.747-05:00Comments on Enchiridion: The Wreck: Stanza 1-2Sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10853868724554947854noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11257594.post-76923170390438604092010-10-20T16:45:06.093-05:002010-10-20T16:45:06.093-05:00"After it almost unmade" refers to the f..."After it almost unmade" refers to the flood, I think. Awesome explanation, by the way.KTnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11257594.post-52698104835832747412009-12-16T18:44:56.099-05:002009-12-16T18:44:56.099-05:00Steve, I am reading this, though I have little hop...Steve, I am reading this, though I have little hope you will see my answer. I am so glad my commentary has helped you experience this beautiful poem. Going through my old notifications and emails made me realize how many readers have come and commented just because of this series of posts -- I really ought to finish it.<br /><br />However, I quite disagree with both you and Docmeade that "world's strand, sway of the sea" could refer to God. Hopkins was not the type to get confused between the creature and the creator -- God made the land and sea, but He is not the same as them.<br /><br />Anonymous 9/17 -- great insight on Job! It's clear that that passage must have been known to Hopkins.<br /><br />Anonymous 10/26 -- You seem to be misunderstanding the word "paradoxical." It doesn't mean "contradictory" or "irreconcilable." Many things that are paradoxical are true. It means that opposites are welded together, as often happens in reality. Hopkins liked to emphasize and capitalize on these realities.Sheilahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10853868724554947854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11257594.post-32917738050172260692009-10-26T12:27:26.379-05:002009-10-26T12:27:26.379-05:00I wish people would stop saying that Hopkins' ...I wish people would stop saying that Hopkins' God is paradoxical - it's not. Hpkins' God is completely perfect and cogent in its effects: first it wreaks havoc by conditionally judging which people deserve it, then after the punishment a heavenly state is given. This is the passage of retribution.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11257594.post-86063022044154509532009-09-17T01:23:34.751-05:002009-09-17T01:23:34.751-05:00It finally hit me that Stanza 1 evokes Job 10: &qu...It finally hit me that Stanza 1 evokes Job 10: "8 Thine hands have made me and fashioned me together round about; yet thou dost destroy me. 9 Remember, I beseech thee, that thou hast made me as the clay; and wilt thou bring me into dust again?"Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11257594.post-27999903005329776842009-09-16T01:37:05.468-05:002009-09-16T01:37:05.468-05:00If you are reading this, let me know. I had a prof...If you are reading this, let me know. I had a profound experience reading this poem early the morning of September 15, and would love to discuss the meaning with someone who cares.<br /><br />FWIW, I think "world's strand, sway of the sea" refer to God, (like Lord of living and dead) rather than to what He gives. God is the shore against which the world vibrates, and He is the also the vibration itself.Stevenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11257594.post-47631144115367083672008-10-14T00:15:00.000-05:002008-10-14T00:15:00.000-05:00I disagree entirely with your assertion that the p...I disagree entirely with your assertion that the phrases in line three "seem to be floating." They are not objects of "giver of" but are in fact other names for God, as is "giver of breath and bread." Hopkins is invoking God in His paradoxical contrariness as both giver and taker of life. He is both land (strand) and sea, the God of "living and dead." It is not accidental that Hopkins has chosen the verb "mastering," as it refers both to God's dominion over Hopkins personally, but also to God's role as a "pilot" who masters both man and ship. The following stanza is not so mysterious when we understand that God "wrecked" Hopkins before during his 30 day retreat during which he prostrated himself on the floor before the altar in submission to God's will.Docmeadehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10087035636663758482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11257594.post-58003447348839500332008-09-08T04:07:00.000-05:002008-09-08T04:07:00.000-05:00immensely useful esp. the reference to fascesplz g...immensely useful esp. the reference to fasces<BR/><BR/>plz goto my poetry site<BR/> http://pappyrus.blogspot.comUmar Trivandrumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17650069085433499322noreply@blogger.com