2. Biography English poet and Jesuit (Catholic) Priest Came from a large, artistic family Showed talent in: Music Drawing Poetry While in school was a bit of a “socialite” and wrote prolifically
3. Biography - Conversion 1866 At Oxford, converted to Catholicism 1868 entered the Jesuit order Tried to break his sensuous nature by living a severe life of denial Saw his poetry as being “incompatible” with his religious duties Burned most of his early work Brilliant student of Oxford, failed his final theology exam Would not progress in the order The order, though harsh at times, did provide stability Could not fully suppress his desire to write: 1875 – “Wreck of the Deutschland” His first great poem Account of a tragic ship wreck People fleeing religious persecution in Germany, drown at the mouth of the Thames River Last poems included the “Terrible” sonnets Expressed his growing feeling of alienation with God Dies in Dublin in 1889 of typhus His poetry was not published until 1918.
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6. God’s Grandeur Presence of the God in the world: Compared to: Electricity visible in momentary flashes of light, flame Spark of life? – Creation allusion? Oil – resource to be tapped Could also be a reference to the “Agony in the Garden” Gethsamane – literally means “place of the olive press” Christ wrestles with doubt, but gathers greatness to make the choice How do humans fail to listen?
8. God’s Grandeur universal desire to be loved unconditionally happiness of knowing that God loves the world even though people forget Him filled with symbols that help to express the pain of the world’s darkness Spiritual damage caused by the endless pursuit of worldly desires
9. Carrion Comfort speaker struggles to confront and overcome the stagnation of his despair and desolation. "Despair“ is personified – temptation to “Feed” on it. "not choose not to be,“ Reference to “Hamlet”? The speaker refuses to accept despair, but cannot fully move past it.
10. Carrion Comfort Tries to find an answer to the dilemma Distances himself through imagination Rapidity of the questions increase and imagery becomes more fearsome as we move along
