SPRING

Gerard Manley Hopkins

Spring

1 Nothing is so beautiful as Spring –

2 When weeds, in wheels, shoot long and lovely and lush;
3 Thrush’s eggs look little low heavens, and thrush
4 Through the echoing timber does so rinse and wring
5 The ear, it strikes like lightnings to hear him sing;
6 The glassy peartree leaves and blooms, they brush
7 The descending blue; that blue is all in a rush
8 With richness; the racing lambs too have fair their fling.

9 What is all this juice and all this joy?

10 A strain of the earth’s sweet being in the beginning
11 In Eden garden. – Have, get, before it cloy,
12 Before it cloud, Christ, lord, and sour sinning,
13 Innocent mind and Mayday in girl and boy,
14 Most, O maid’s child, thy choice and worthy the winning.

Spring
1 Nothing is so beautiful as Spring –
2 When weeds, in wheels, shoot long and lovely and lush;
3 Thrush’s eggs look little low heavens, and thrush
4 Through the echoing timber does so rinse and wring
5 The ear, it strikes like lightnings to hear him sing;
6 The glassy peartree leaves and blooms, they brush
7 The descending blue; that blue is all in a rush
8 With richness; the racing lambs too have fair their fling.
9 What is all this juice and all this joy?
10 A strain of the earth’s sweet being in the beginning
11 In Eden garden. – Have, get, before it cloy,
12 Before it cloud, Christ, lord, and sour sinning,
13 Innocent mind and Mayday in girl and boy,
14 Most, O maid’s child, thy choice and worthy the winning.
Let’s look at the poem’s structure.
• Poet: Gerard Manley Hopkins
• Structure: . Italian or Petrarchan sonnet (1) 14 lines (1) 2 stanzas one with 8 lines and a sestet consisting of six lines (1) The rhyme scheme is
abbaabba cdcdcd(1)
• Rhythm: Sprung rhyme is kind of rhyme that clusters together the stressed and unstressed syllables. They appear suddenly together, giving
the phrases they emphasize a special importance. It is based on the number of stressed syllables in a line and permits an indeterminate
number of unstressed syllables.
• Rhyme pattern: abbaabba cdcdcd
• Rhyme scheme: Enclosed rhyme in the octave and alternating rhyme scheme in the sestet.
• Summary of content: In this sonnet, the speaker celebrates the beauty of nature and the glory of God.
• Theme(THE MEssage): Innocence - The speaker admires and loves springtime, as it is a time for renewal. Spring is innocent – harmless, and
free from guilt and sin, whereas humans deliberately disrupt and destroy these peaceful and productive cycles. Humans need to be as innocent
(well-behaved, kind and loving) as lambs (line 8). He thinks back to Eden, the paradise that was supposed to exist before humans were on the
earth . Unique and special nature of the universe. All has a purpose. Human’s spiritual and physical needs – we need to understand that
everything has a place/role
• Tone/Mood/Emotion:
• Octave: Jovial and full of celebration ‘Nothing is so beautiful as spring’ Questioning ‘What is all this juice and all this joy?’ (line 9)
• Sestet: Urgent and anxious ‘Have, get, before it cloy, before it cloud’ (line 11) Regret (that contrast with joy in the octave) ‘Before it
cloud, Christ, lord, and sour with sinning’ Pleading ‘Have, get’ (line 11) Prayerful ‘Most, O maid's child, thy choice’
 Line 1
STANZA 1 Line 2

GE - He opens with a bold statement of his philosophy. Spring is described as the most He now gives evidence in support of his belief. Something that is typical of GM Hopkins’ poetry is that every single
beautiful season of all. He is absolutely sure of this, convicted of his thoughts, there is no doubt. He thing is unique. God is the essence of things. Something that is also typical of GM Hopkins’ poetry is that every
then recalls specific things that remind him of nature – things that are part of rebirth and renewal, like single thing has its own energy. God is the unique energy of things.
spring. Unexpectedly GMH uses weeds to describe the beauty of nature (Ironically). The weeds are growing/overgrowing in
P- the ‘-‘ dash introduces the list of things that he wants us to know about spring being so the old abandoned wheels of an old wagon. You see the plants ‘shooting’ appearing overnight and they unfold in a
beautiful. The speaker asserts that Spring is beautiful; nothing compares to it/ Spring is the loveliest wheel-like manner as they ‘shoot’ up to the sky. There is energy of growth and this is emphasized by the use of
season. words like “shoot”. A wheel is a circle and this reminds us of the cycle of life of the seasons.
SD - ALLITERATION – of the ‘w’ and the ‘l’ emphasize the growth and the lush beauty of the growth in spring.
The use of alliteration gives a sense of speed and growth of weeds.Weeds are parasites and are generally not
viewed in a positive light; however, the speaker describes them as 'lovely and lush' which are terms of admiration.
1 Nothing is so beautiful as Spring –
2 When weeds, in wheels, shoot long and lovely and lush;
3 Thrush’s eggs look little low heavens, and thrush
4 Through the echoing timber does so rinse and wring
5 The ear, it strikes like lightnings to hear him sing; Line 3
6 The glassy peartree leaves and blooms, they brush GE - This is the second image that shows the vibrancy of spring. A thrush is a type of
bird that has a lovely echoing song. There is a sense of ‘heaven on earth’ in springtime.
7 The descending blue; that blue is all in a rush There is an introduction of religion here already with the use of the word ‘heaven’.
8 With richness; the racing lambs too have fair their fling. I- SIMILE – (even if ‘like is omitted) The eggs of the thrush is compared to the
speckled and cloud-patterned sky.
SD - ALLITERATION – of the ‘l’ emphasizes the detail of the eggs which look like
Line 4 speckled clouds. Thrush's eggs are blue in colour and therefore resemble the colour of the
sky which is associated with the heavens. The sound (song) is compared to the powerful
GE - The thrush’s song echoes against the trees. The ‘timber’ is wood – also ‘timbre’ in music which means the tone or sound of lightning.
unique quality of sound. This sound has a cleansing effect on the listener. It now becomes a spiritual experience.
SD - ASSONANCE – of ‘i’ emphasizes the effect the bird’s song has on the speaker.
I- ONOMATOPOEIA – (imitating a sound) – is found in the word ‘wring’ – this is what the thrush sounds like.
 STANZA 1 - continued
Line 5
GE - The sound of the thrush is described by using a comparison.
I- SIMILE – the sound of the thrush is compared to many strikes of lightning. It is piercing.
PD - Enjambment – Line four and five run into one another and is read as a whole. The hurt that the sound makes to the Line 6
ear is emphasized by placing “the ear’ at the beginning of the line.
I- SYNEDOCHE – The ear is used as a stand-in for a person in his entirety, who is listening. GE - The next item on the list is a pear tree. Their leaves and blooms are described, as well
SD - ASSONANCE – of ‘i’ emphasizes the effect the bird’s song has on the speaker. as the paint effect they have on the blue sky in line 7. The glassy ice of the tree leaves and
the tree grows some leaves – this announces spring and replaces the ice season.
I - METAPHOR – the pear tree is compared to a paint brush colouring the sky. The tree is
‘glassy’ – it is the end of winter and the ice is melting
SD - ASSONANCE – of ‘ee’ in pear and leaves.
PD - Enjambment

5 The ear, it strikes like lightnings to hear him sing;

6 The glassy peartree leaves and blooms, they brush
7 The descending blue; that blue is all in a rush
8 With richness; the racing lambs too have fair their fling.
Line 7

GE - The next item on the list is a pear tree. Their leaves and blooms are described, as well as the paint effect they have on
the blue sky in line 7. The glassy ice of the tree leaves and the tree grows some leaves – this announces spring and replaces
the ice season. Heaven is reaching out to earth.
Line 8

GE - The lambs bring another religious element to the poem – lamb of God and a symbol of innocence. These lambs are
enjoying the fairness – the beauty of spring. They are playfully jumping.
A peartree tree grows leaves and then its flowers blossom; in the distance it is compared to a paintbrush colouring the sky.
 STANZA 2
Line 9
GE - The tone in the sestet becomes questioning. The poet asks a basic question.
RHETORICAL DEVICE -REPETITION – of ‘all this’ refers to the lushness of the season and the scene. The speaker is
wondering how he is going to explain this unbridled joy. It is not always like this – as in the octave.
SD - ALLITERATION – of the ‘j’ emphasizes the lushness of perfection of spring. Line 10
GE - Spring is like as strain - a small piece of the earth. The innocence in the joy of
spring – the sweetness of Eden (line 11) of the earth of the being of earth. Spring is a
reminder of paradise.
I- SIMILE – spring is compared to the garden of Eden.
9 What is all this juice and all this joy?
10 A strain of the earth’s sweet being in the beginning
Line 11
11 In Eden garden. – Have, get, before it cloy, GE - The tone becomes pleading. He appeals to God to preserve
the beauty of spring before it loses its purity. Keep sin from spring. He
12 Before it cloud, Christ, lord, and sour sinning, is as if in prayer.
P- the ‘-‘ dash an explanation follows.
13 Innocent mind and Mayday in girl and boy,
14 Most, O maid’s child, thy choice and worthy the winning.
12
GE - Our speaker is urging Christ to get hold of this bounty and lushness before it spoils, before it goes bad. The way it goes
bad, we learn, is through sin. (That's what happened with Eden. Forbidden fruit, original sin…) The syntax is getting kind of
jumbled. This seems to point to an emotional turmoil. A tone of anguish enters the poem as anguish tells us that he urgently
wants some action. The pain is emphasises (the hard c-sounds, and the way he keeps repeating and rephrasing – "before it 13
cloy, / Before it cloud, Christ, lord, and sour with sinning"). When we get to "Christ, lord," not only does it become quite clear that GE - The innocence refers to the innocence of childhood and Mayday is the start of
our speaker is Christian, but the poem also begins to sound more like a prayer. springtime. This is the mayday in the life of a young girl. It's the innocent minds that are
threatened with the possibility of cloying and clouding and souring with sinning.

14
GE - There is a prayer image – He pleads with the son of God – of Mary the virgin. Jesus must please preserve innocence
– to win over sin. Jesus must please choose to save and win our innocent souls.
Diction / figurative language: Simile: The ‘eggs of a thrush’ are compared to the speckled/spotted and cloud patterned sky. However, the
word ‘like’ omitted. The song of the thrush is compared to lightning. Metaphor: The speaker compares springtime to the Garden of Eden
from the bible. The pear tree in the distance is compared to a paintbrush colouring the sky. Personification:
The glassy peartree leaves and blooms, they brush

Contrast: The poet uses contrast between sinning and innocence. There is also contrast between the joyful praising nature (in the octave)
and the anxiety, worry about sin and praying to God (in the sestet). Images: beauty and energy and the bible. What is all this juice and all
this joy?’ and ‘weeds, in wheels, shoot long and lovely and lush’ [these all have an appealing sound due to alliteration]. ‘weeds’, ‘eggs’,
‘thrush’, ‘lambs’ and ‘peartree’. in the beginning in Eden garden’ ‘Most, O maid's child, thy choice’ (prayer). Alliteration: weeds-wheels (line
2) long-lovely-lush (line 2) fair-fling (line 8) juice-joy (line 9)

The first line clearly summarises the meaning of the first part (octave) of the poem. It is a celebration of the beauty of spring which is described in
colourful and descriptive images. Spring’s beauty is listed:
- Weeds growing through a wheel., Speckled eggs of the thrush., Sound of the thrushes is enjoyed and compared to lightning, He now
describes the leaves and blossoms of a pear tree., He moves to the beautiful blue sky. In the last line the playful lambs are described.
In the last six lines (sestet) now starts questioning and looking for the real meaning that lies behind the positive energy of spring. The thought
pattern is developed and deepened:
- He wants to shelter and protect the innocence of children from sin. He finds his answer to the question of ‘joy and juice’... He brings it back to
the Bible, Garden of Eden – as a priest believes in the stories of the Bible. Spring reminds us of Paradise.
Now he becomes prayerful – God must keep the beauty do it stays pure. Next he asks God to protect beauty from sin. The specific parts of nature
that he wants preserved is mentioned – childhood innocence. Childhood is the May day or ultimate time of human life.
Jesus, in the last line, is asked to win children to Him while they are still innocent. Religion is introduced in the sestet.
Questions
6.1.1 Describe the structure of this poem fully. (4)
6.1.2 Using your OWN words, state how the speaker feels about Spring. (1)
6.1.3 Why is the speaker's description of weeds (line 2) unusual? (2)
6.1.4 Explain why the thrush's eggs are compared to 'heavens' in line 3. (2)
6.1.5 Refer to line 5 ('it strikes like … hear him sing'). (a) Identify the figure of speech in this line. (1) (b) Explain why this figure of speech is appropriate. (2)
6.1.6 Refer to lines 9–14 ('What is all … worthy the winning').
(a) Quote TWO CONSECUTIVE WORDS from these lines that refer to paradise. (1)
(b) Choose the correct answer to complete the following sentence. Write only the letter (A–D) next to the question number (6.1.6 (b)) in the ANSWER BOOK. In
the context of the poem, 'Mayday' (line 13) refers to … A Workers' Day. B Spring Day. C Good Friday. D Arbour Day. (1)
(c) To whom does 'maid's child' (line 14) refer? (1)
6.1.7 In your opinion, does the speaker succeed in convincing the reader about the beauty of Spring? Discuss your view. (3)
Answers:

6.1.1 It is an Italian/Petrarchan sonnet. It comprises of 14 lines. The first eight lines are referred to as the octave. The last six lines are referred to as
the sestet. The rhyme scheme is abba abba cdcdcd. NOTE: Accept any FOUR of the above. Award ONE mark for the identification of octave and
sestet. (4)

6.1.2 The speaker feels that Spring is the best/loveliest season (1)

6.1.3 Weeds are parasites and are generally not viewed in a positive light.However, the poet describes weeds as 'lovely and lush' which are terms of
admiration.(2)

6.1.4 Thrush's eggs are blue in colour and therefore resemble the colour of the sky which is associated with the heavens. (2)

6.1.5 (a) Simile (1) (b) Just as the striking of lightning is powerful,similarly, the sound/singing of the thrush evokes a powerful feeling in the speaker. (2)

6.1.6 (a) 'Eden garden' (1) (b) (c) B/Spring Day The Virgin Mary’s son, Jesus/Jesus/Christ/Jesus Christ/ Baby Jesus (1) (1)

6.1.7 Open-ended. Accept a relevant response which shows an understanding of the following viewpoints, among others: Yes. *The speaker's use of
figures of speech and words like 'beautiful', 'lovely' and 'lush' convey the idea of the splendour of Spring. *The descriptions of Spring, create a pleasant
picture of nature, new life, bliss/happiness in the mind of the reader. *Through his descriptions the speaker convinces the reader to feel the way that he
does about Spring. No. * The preference of readers as to their favourite season will differ. * Other seasons also have a unique beauty, not just Spring. * Not
all readers will understand the language/diction/comparisons that the speaker uses. NOTE: Do NOT award a mark for YES or NO. Credit responses where
a combination is given. For full marks, the response must be well-substantiated. A candidate can score 1 or 2 marks for a response which is not well-
substantiated. The candidate's interpretation must be grounded in the text of the poem. (3)