Gerard Manley-Hopkins uses many figures of speech in his sonnet, “Spring” as he likens the beauty of the season to the Garden of Eden, one of the first beauties on this earth, created by God.
Using alliteration, the poet has employed great feeling as he attempts to tell the world to look after their planet. He desperately wants to save the splendour of spring, and keep the season just as attractive for the future generations. He begs God to preserve this last luxury, and stop man from sinning. The reader can feel the poet’s pain as his philosophies surface. “Long and lovely and lush” really highlights how deep the poet’s feelings go. The poet is obviously very excited, and seems to be in a rush to make his thoughts known. In this way the energy of spring materializes, along with the enthusiasm and anticipation. Another example of the hope of spring is the quotation, “fair their fling”, as the quirky sound of the structure adds to the overall atmosphere of bursting stimulation.
Both similes and metaphors are used to ensure the sonnet’s success as the description of spring is continually detailed, throughout its beauties, and towards its imperfections and consequences, should man be allowed to continue to sin. Manley-Hopkins describes the thrushes’ singing as it “strikes like lightning”. The quotation describes the song to be strong, piercing, and vivid, just as a bolt of lightning is when it strikes. Also, the repetition of the vowel sound in the citation highlights the feeling of the noise that the poet could hear. The words are precise, and bold, just as we are told the song is.
As the poet depicts how the trees are blossoming, the metaphor: “glassy peartree”, in two words allows the reader to know exactly how the bloom looked. As the reader imagines glass, it is shiny, clean, fresh and reflective. The reader’s mind is therefore illustrated with pictures of white blossom.
John Donne uses substantial different forms of personification in the sonnet, “Holy Sonnet 10” as he employs his feelings that Death is weak, and not to be feared of. The reader can feel very much involved in the sonnet as they interpret it, for the poet’s beliefs are so strong that they lure the reader into a false sense of security.
“Death be not proud”, “thou art slave” and “whom thou think’st”, are all examples taken from the sonnet of personification. Death is spoken of as another person: another person with some power, and another person that is dangerous. Death cannot be proud, or be a slave, or think; only man can. Donne introduces Death as an evil man, and because he is only a man, he can be overcome, and so is nothing to fear. The sonnet is addressed to Death and the feelings expressed are so vivid and powerful, yet dangerous all the same, that the reader can really understand what the poet is meaning. The feelings are so intense that they really make the reader think, and possibly even formulate the reader to convert his or her own beliefs.
The first two lines are monosyllabic, except the words “mighty” and “dreadfull”, which cause the sonnet to be clear, simple, precise and emphatic. The poet speaks strongly and plainly, as his feelings cover every word written down. Also, the stressed syllables in the first two lines, and throughout, emphasise every expression of feeling that the poet is portraying. “Death be not proud”, the opening line of the sonnet, where the words underlined are stressed to captivate the attention of the reader as soon as possible, to create a really powerful and dangerous approach to the sonnet.
In “Holy Sonnet 10”, Donne addresses the sonnet to Death, which gives it all more emphasis, and shows the poet to be strong. It is direct, and makes the sonnet read very powerfully, with significant emotions. It gives a sense of poet’s own conviction.
The first word in “Spring” is “nothing”, which is a stressed syllable that takes time to say, and to read. It is a powerful word, and enthrals the curiosity of the reader strongly, in just the first line of diction. Constant alliterations apply the full ideas of excitement and enjoyment within the first octave, before a solemn realisation in the final sestet.
“Look little low heavens”, a quotation describing the thrushes’ eggs, shows considerable feeling as the poet likens the eggs to something as beautiful and as perfect as heaven. The poet genuinely cares for saving springtime, and is doing his best to convey all of his ideas and views.
“Shoot”, describing the movement and the growth of plants, shows the energetic development of spring. The anticipation of the poet in the first few lines is phenomenal, as he places every aspect of spring with a brief yet vivid description, down into the depths of his sonnet. The newness of the new season has caused the poet to be overjoyed in awe of such splendour. There is no wonder that the poet wants to keep such beauty forever.
Manley-Hopkins addresses Jesus, “Oh maid’s child”, and with such compassion and emotion. The maid is the Virgin Mary, and her child, of course, is Jesus. The poet desperately wants for an all-powerful figure from above to listen to his pleas. The poet’s feelings are deep, and he begs for all sinning to be ceased. The poet begs God to preserve the innocence of youth, the girl and the boy, disallowing them to sin, therefore saving spring. It is as though God is the poet’s last hope, as he begs him to make a change. The poet realises the true beauties of spring, and prays that they are not taken from man, as the Garden of Eden was taken from Adam and Eve.
Great feeling is employed through the run-on lines, as the sonnet accelerates and becomes increasingly more energetic and fluent. Stressed words allow the reader to fixate on a precise image in their mind of perhaps what the poet was seeing, or how the poet was feeling. Also, at the times when the sonnet is specifically addressed to Jesus, or to the Lord, a more direct and powerful approach is taken, and the reader feels part of something very real, and very important: a decision, and a commitment summoned for to the heavens.
“Holy Sonnet 10” shows a great strength of faith, as the poet is a true believer of God. There is such a strong belief that the poet is not afraid of Death, and in fact in this sonnet addresses Death as something very vain, and very feeble, which shall never bring him any harm.
The first line, “Death be not proud” catches the awareness of the reader immediately, the first word being exceptionally powerful, and hazardous. It is a quick, stern and direct start to the sonnet, convincing the reader to involve his or herself into the words that were to follow.
The word “death” is continually stated throughout the sonnet, the consistent repetitions allowing the reader to feel as though he or she could his or herself conquer Death in the same way. Death is addressed almost as a person, and there is extensive hatred towards it. The poet tries to prove that Death is weak, and seems to put it in its place. The sonnet is so authoritative that all of the reader’s emotions are taken up with the words that are written, as he or she scans down the lines of the sonnet. The feelings portrayed are extremely passionate, as the poet scolds Death for its unnecessary vanity and self-importance. Death can be, and will be overcome.
The word “pleasure” encourages the reader to believe that to die is the same as to sleep, and it would be a pleasure to be forever at rest. Death is desirable, and is not to be feared. Sleep is not feared, so Death should not be feared, but desired, as an eternal life of tranquillity. The best people await you in heaven, the ones that are already dead. Sleep and rest are pictures of Death, and if sleep is good, then Death must be even better.
The tone of the sonnet is quite aggressive, as the poet attempts to bully Death by showing no fear, and enlarging all of its bad qualities. The poet reduces Death to insignificance, as he proves that man is the dominant figure. With such a faith in God, Donne is confident that he will be with God once Death is overcome, and therefore does not fear dying. When a person dies, they do not have to worry about their bodies anymore, they have no further concerns, but their souls are released into heaven. His beliefs are so strong that he feels entitled to challenge the significance of Death.
The atmosphere in “Spring” is extreme, and the reader can feel that there really is nothing as beautiful as spring is. The energetic description of the qualities of spring release excitement and exhilaration, and the reader can see just how important the season is to the poet. The adjectives used to describe simple colours, “descending blue” show just how much attention to detail has been taken, and just how strong the poet’s feelings really are.
The final sestet produces even more emotion as the poet begs God to save the innocence of youth, and to save the paradise season, which is spring. Manley-Hopkins allows the reader to feel part of such an amazing campaign to stop sinners, and to save spring. Spring, a season every person can relate to, is being threatened by our lack of innocence. The reader strongly wants to help the poet on his mission to save spring. The reader feels as though he or she is with the poet, as his shoulder to cry on, as he explains his love of the season, and then cries to the Lord to let him keep it. Every single aspect of spring seems to be so dear to Manley-Hopkins, that the reader is swept over with tremendous sympathy, and compassion. The reader, too, does not want to lose spring.
The atmosphere is “Holy Sonnet 10” is extraordinarily forceful, and the reader actually begins to believe in what Donne is saying. The reader’s personal preceding thoughts on Death are replaced with new and improved ideas from this sonnet. Swept under a strong spell of evil judgments, the reader becomes involved from the very beginning, and stays so even after the end. If the reader had ever feared Death, they would no longer do so, for the reasons Donne implies throughout cover ever situation. Death is not in control, man is, and the reader’s mind opens up to all new such theories. The reader feels, even if he or she is atheist, for a short time, that Death will be overcome, and that man will reach eternal life in heaven, where there is no death, only peace.
The reader now feels that to die is simply a reunion with the friends and family members that have gone before us. One short sleep and man will wake for all eternity with God in heaven. The sonnet is so vivid, and clear, that it gives the reader no reason to doubt Donne’s meaning. Not only does the sonnet open the reader’s mind to new ideas and realisations, but also it keeps the mind open forever.
Looking again back at Gerard Manley-Hopkins, the reader can tell that his feelings towards the keeping and preserving of spring are sincere. The words and expressions the poet uses keep the sonnet alive and flowing. The poet’s expressions and emotions reveal him to be distraught and sad, and the reader can only have a desire to comfort his misery. Manley-Hopkins cares for the season, and cares for the world, God’s gift, to such an extent that he has allowed himself to get into quite a poignant state.
Equally, John Donne is full of sincerity as well, as he confronts Death about its vanity and uselessness. His beliefs are so strong in his God that he feels that he could do anything, and no harm would come of him. Donne does not fear Death, because of his strong faith. Because the poet thinks that there is life after death, he can dare to tackle Death, and state every aspect that is so evil and unnecessary about it. Donne is as genuine as he could ever possibly be, and his faith is obviously a massive part of his life. His feelings are conveyed in such a way that the reader is entirely engrossed into the diction of the sonnet.
In my opinion, although both sonnets are very successful and portray great strength of genuine feeling, I prefer “Holy Sonnet 10”. I love the undeviating approach the sonnet offers, talking directly to Death as if it is merely a person. It is the sonnet that allowed my mind to wander the furthest, and it has opened my mind extensively to a new way of perceiving dying. If I had ever considered Death to be worth fearing, this sonnet has cured me, and proved to me that Death is nothing but a short sleep, before waking eternally. And when I do die, many of my friends and family will be in heaven waiting for me, as will I to the people I leave behind. It shows dying to be something other than the end, but more of a bridge that we all have to cross before we live eternally in peace.
Death cannot kill me, and I see that now. Death is not a sad time, and we will all end up together anyway, in the end. John Donne, with his passionate feeling, has forced me to open my eyes, like some will never do, and see the bigger picture. We are all pawns in a game, and God is our master. Death has no real significance at all; it just thinks that it does. It is no real power, and deserves no real fear or respect. We will all, in time, overcome Death, and walk over that bridge into eternal bliss.
Although “Spring” was itself, very meaningful, and touching, it does not portray just as much feeling as “Holy Sonnet 10”, nor is it as easy to relate to wholly. The strength of feeling in both sonnets, overall, was exceptional.