Strength of Feeling in Spring and Holy Sonnet 10

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Strength of Feeling in Spring and Holy Sonnet 10

"Spring", written by Gerard Manley-Hopkins, employs the ideas of the

beauty of the season. Manley-Hopkins introduces references to his

faith, portraying a religious approach. The feelings experienced

within the sonnet are very intense, and the reader becomes

progressively more engrossed amid the lines of the sonnet, as the poet

delves into the peril that spring might be spoiled, and the innocence

of youth might be lost. Manley-Hopkins addresses the Lord, in the hope

that all sinning might cease forever, and hence the beauty of the

season of spring might be maintained eternally.

"Holy Sonnet 10", written by John Donne, similarly refers to the

poet's faith. The strength of the feeling shown here is colossal, as

Donne challenges to address Death as a coward. The sonnet is powerful,

as Donne dares to think Death to be weak and feeble. The poet is so

confident within his faith of God, and his apparent belief in the

afterlife, that he is self assured that no harm will come to him from

this one vain beast. Death will eventually be overcome; it is nothing

to fear. The poet's feelings are vivid, and dangerous, and the reader

is thrown into a reverie of shadows as such immoral thoughts are taken

in.

"Spring", a Petrarchan sonnet, contains an octave, which sets the

scene of the ultimate beauty of spring, followed by a concluding

sestet, revealing its real imperfections. Just as Adam and Eve

committed original sin, resulting in the Garden of Eden being ruined,

Manley-Hopkins declares that spring itself will, in time, be ruined if

we continue to sin. With great feeling, the poet begs God to ...

... middle of paper ...

... 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.

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