The Windhover By Gerard Manley Hopkins | Explanation and Analysis

Hello students! Today, we will do analysis of the poem The Windhover by Gerard Manley Hopkins in great detail. This poem is about a bird, specifically a falcon, and how its flight in the sky is a beautiful and powerful sight. Hopkins uses this bird to show deeper meanings about struggle, beauty, and even spiritual ideas. We will go through the poem step by step, explaining all difficult words and phrases. By the end, you will have a complete understanding analysis of The Windhover By Gerard Manley Hopkins. Hopkins wrote this poem about a bird called a windhover, which is another name for a kestrel. A kestrel is a type of falcon, a bird of prey that hunts for food while flying high in the sky. The poet describes how the bird moves through the air and compares it to other things, such as a knight or fire. Hopkins also connects this bird’s flight to ideas of strength, effort, and beauty. The poem is written in a special style called sprung rhythm, and Hopkins uses words in a way that makes them sound musical. The title The Windhover refers to the kestrel, which is a small falcon. The word "windhover" comes from the way the bird hovers, or stays in one place, while facing the wind. This means the bird uses the wind to balance itself in the air. The poet is amazed by how the bird does this, and the entire poem is about his admiration for its flight. Analysis of The Windhover By Gerard Manley Hopkins. Gerard Manley Hopkins' poem "The Windhover" is a sonnet that describes the poet's admiration for a bird, a kestrel, that he sees in flight. This poem is rich in imagery, literary devices, and deep meanings. Hopkins uses the kestrel’s flight to express his admiration for beauty, strength, and divine power. The poem is also a reflection on spiritual struggle and religious devotion. The title, "The Windhover," refers to a type of falcon, specifically the kestrel, which is known for its ability to hover in the wind while searching for prey. Hopkins uses this bird to symbolize many things, including Christ, human effort, and the power of nature. The poet finds great beauty in the bird’s controlled yet energetic flight. He expresses how this sight moves him deeply. Hopkins wrote this poem using a style called sprung rhythm. This is a type of poetic rhythm that does not follow traditional patterns of stressed and unstressed syllables. Instead, it follows natural speech patterns and makes the poem more dynamic. This unique rhythm enhances the energy of the poem and mimics the movement of the bird. The first eight lines of the poem describe the kestrel’s movement in the sky. Hopkins tells us that he saw this bird early in the morning. He calls it the "morning’s minion". The word "minion" means a servant or follower. This suggests that the bird is serving something greater, possibly nature or the duty granted by God. He also calls it the "kingdom of daylight’s dauphin". The word "dauphin" means the heir to a throne. This means that the bird is like a prince of the sky, ruling over the morning light. In the next part of the poem, Hopkins talks about the deeper meaning of what he sees. He describes the bird’s "brute beauty and valour and act". The phrase "brute beauty" means a raw, natural beauty. "Valour" means courage, and "act" refers to the bird’s skill in flight. Hopkins sees all these qualities in the kestrel. However, he also suggests that these qualities come from something even greater. He exclaims, "O my chevalier!" The word "chevalier" means knight. Hopkins is comparing the kestrel to a noble warrior. This connects to the idea that the bird represents Christ, who is also often compared to a knight or warrior in Christian tradition.