crossref-it.info - AS/A2 English Literature Study Guides - texts in context.Poems for study » Harry Ploughman » Themes in Harry Ploughman
Grace in ordinary life
This is the single theme. The sonnet is focused entirely on Harry's physique and the unity of movement he achieves in his work: this is his inscape. Like many men who have sedentary jobs or a delicate physique, Hopkins seems to admire the raw strength of this labourer immensely, building up an idealised picture of him.
As with Tom in Tom's Garland, ‘Harry’ is a composite person. No single specific ploughman is being portrayed, which makes the inscape much vaguer.
More on inscape: The original idea of inscape was particular places or views. Here, Hopkins sees the man as much like an animal as anything. Ted Hughes, in some of his early poems, catches the same sort of feel of the idealised animal doing its special thing.
The idea of grace is captured in the compound ‘Churlsgrace’. It is a grace of motion, of creation, rather than any supernatural grace (given to undo the effects of the Fall). There is no sense of anything fallen in Harry. He is perfect, created as he should be.
- Pick out words, phrases and images that mark the man's essential being, the essence of his ploughing.
- What words or phrases convey Hopkins' admiration for the man?
Hard as hurdle arms, with a broth of goldish flue
Breathed round; the rack of ribs; the scooped flank; lank
Rope-over thigh; knee-nave; and barrelled shank--
Head and foot, shoulder and shank--
By a grey eye's heed steered well, one crew, fall to;
Stand at stress. Each limb's barrowy brawn, his thew
That onewhere curded, onewhere sucked or sank--
Soared or sank--,
Though as a beechbole firm, finds his, as at a roll-
call, rank
And features, in flesh, what deed he each must do--
His sinew-service where do.
He leans to it, Harry bends, look. Back, elbow, and
liquid waist
In him, all quail to the wallowing o' the plough:
's cheek crimsons; curls
Wag or crossbridle, in a wind lifted, windlaced--
See his wind- lilylocks -laced;
Churlsgrace, too, child of Amansstrength, how it hangs
or hurls
Them--broad in bluff hide his frowning feet lashed! raced
With, along them, cragiron under and cold furls--
With-a-fountain's shining-shot furls.
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