Gerard Manley Hopkins

Gerard Manley Hopkins...poet of prayer and praise

Spend the term exploring the rich, musical, and deeply attentive poetry of Gerard Manley Hopkins, a Victorian poet and Jesuit priest whose work reveals the world as charged with the grandeur of God. Writing in a time of industrial change and spiritual questioning, Hopkins turned inward and upward—seeking to capture the unique essence of created things and the divine beauty that sustains them.

Through his poetry, students encounter a language alive with energy and wonder. Hopkins developed what he called sprung rhythm, a bold and unconventional form that follows natural speech and emphasizes meaning over strict meter. His poems invite readers to slow down, to notice, and to delight in the particular—whether in the flight of a bird, the play of light, or the hidden strength of the soul. He was deeply religious and drew inspiration from the sacredness of prayer and praise for his poetry.

In this study, students will:

• Explore how Hopkins reveals the uniqueness of creation
• Learn the foundations of sprung rhythm and how sound and meaning work together
• Engage with poetry as an expression of praise, attention, and spiritual vision

This guide is designed to be used over one term (12 weeks), with one lesson each week lasting approximately 20 minutes. Students are encouraged to read aloud, listen closely, narrate, and recite—allowing these poems to shape both ear and imagination, and to cultivate a deeper attentiveness to truth, beauty, and the presence of God in the ordinary.

Recommended contemporary and complimentary studies:

History – The Symphony of History, Vol. 2 Nocturne (Middle Ages)

Geography – Asia “Rising Light”

Composer – Echoes in the Cloister and Ralph Vaughan Williams and Echoes in the Courts

Poetry – Geoffrey Chaucer and Alfred, Lord Tennyson

Picture – Giotto and John Everett Millais and Albrecht Durer

Folk songs – Minstrels and Troubadours (coming summer 2026)



*the guide includes QR Codes for easy links, if you choose to print the document.

For printing, we recommend our print partner Humble Heart Press.

** due to the nature of digital products, we are unable to accept returns.