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Into the snows she sweeps, Hurling the haven behind, The…

“Into the snows she sweeps, Hurling the haven behind, The Deutschland, on Sunday; and so the sky keeps, For the infinite air is unkind, And the sea flint-flake, black-backed in the regular blow, Sitting Eastnortheast, in cursed quarter, the wind; Wiry and white-fiery and whirlwind-swivelled snow…” quote by Gerard Manley Hopkins
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““Into the snows she sweeps, Hurling the haven behind, The Deutschland, on Sunday; and so the sky keeps, For the infinite air is unkind, And the sea flint-flake, black-backed in the regular blow, Sitting Eastnortheast, in cursed quarter, the wind; Wiry and white-fiery and whirlwind-swivelled snow Spins to the wido-making unchilding unfathering deeps. (from "The Wreck of the Deutschland, Part the Second")””

Gerard Manley Hopkins

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The poem depicts a ship battling harsh, unforgiving elements, symbolizing human struggle against nature’s indifferent force.

In simple terms: Nature’s fury overwhelms human effort.

Key Takeaway

Respect nature’s power and prepare for adversity.

Themes

nature struggle humanity fate

Mood

awe foreboding melancholic

Type

poetic literary philosophical

When to use this quote

  • Sailing in storms
  • mountaineering
  • war zones
  • climate crisis
  • personal loss

Key Concepts

Romanticism nature’s sublime existential dread

Questions to Reflect On

  • How do you confront forces beyond your control?
  • What does this say about humanity’s place in the world?
A Different Perspective

Human resilience can be limited when confronting overwhelming natural forces.

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