Faith Quote by Margaret R. Ellsberg
““The Incarnation of Christ raised the energy of everything. And when Hopkins placed his conviction of this into poetry, he tended to mention electricity, lightening, fire, flash, flame. He wrote in his late, great poem, "That Nature is a Heraclitean Fire and the comfort of the Resurrection": 'In a flash, at a trumpet crash, / I am all at once what Christ is, / since he was what I am and / This jack, joke, poor potsherd, / patch matchwood, immortal diamond, / Is immortal diamond.””
About This Quote
Source Literary analysis: Hopkins’ poetry, 2018
Hopkins portrays Christ’s incarnation as a divine fire, linking natural electricity to spiritual resurrection.
In simple terms: Christ’s energy is likened to electric fire.
Key Takeaway
See spirituality in nature.
Themes
faith
poetry
theology
metaphor
energy
Mood
reflective
poetic
inspirational
Type
Faith:1
Gerard-manley-hopkins:1
Incarnation:1
Nature:1
Poetry:1
Prophetic-imagination:0
Resurrection:1
Theology:1
Christ Raised:0
Incarnation Christ:0
Flame Wrote:0
When to use this quote
- church sermons
- literature classes
- personal meditation
- artistic inspiration
Key Concepts
incarnation
electricity
resurrection imagery
Questions to Reflect On
- How does natural imagery deepen spiritual meaning?
- What modern symbols could convey similar ideas?
A Different Perspective
Metaphorical language may be misunderstood.
