Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Felix Randal" is a poem by Gerard Manley Hopkins, first published in 1918. The poem is a tribute to a man named Felix Randal, who was a blacksmith and a friend of the poet.

The poem is structured as a series of fourteen lines, with an irregular rhyme scheme. In the first line, the speaker describes Felix Randal as a "farrier," or blacksmith.

In the second and third lines, the speaker reflects on the way in which Felix Randal was struck down by illness, and suggests that his suffering was all the more poignant because he was a man of great strength and vitality.

In the fourth and fifth lines, the speaker reflects on the way in which Felix Randal's illness has affected his work, suggesting that he is no longer able to work as he once did.

In the sixth and seventh lines, the speaker describes the way in which Felix Randal has been transformed by his illness, suggesting that he is now a shadow of his former self.

In the final lines, the speaker reflects on the way in which Felix Randal's suffering has affected those around him, and suggests that even though he may be gone, his memory will endure as a symbol of strength and resilience in the face of adversity.

Overall, "Felix Randal" is a powerful and moving poem that pays tribute to a man who embodies the virtues of strength, resilience, and perseverance in the face of adversity. Through his use of vivid language and imagery, Hopkins creates a sense of the enduring power of the human spirit, and offers a poignant meditation on the enduring legacy of those who have faced and overcome great challenges in life.

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