Gerard Manley Hopkins: A Life and Legacy

Early Life and Influences Gerard Manley Hopkins, a renowned 19th-century poet, was born on July 28, 1844, in Stratford, Essex, England. His parents, Manley Hopkins and Catherine Hopkins, nurtured his literary inclinations. His father, a marine insurance adjuster and writer, introduced him to literature, and his mother's religious background added depth to his thought. During their stay near Keats' residence in Hampstead in 1852, Hopkins was exposed to poetry. Engaging with Keats' literary works, he penned his earliest poem, "The Escorial." His parents' rich reading material allowed him to express his thoughts from an early age. Education and Formative Years Hopkins acquired foundational reading and writing skills at home before enrolling in Highgate School in 1854. His mentors included Richard Watson Dixon and Philip Stanhope Worsley, both notable English poets. Later, he pursued studies at Balliol College, Oxford, under the guidance of Benjamin Jowett and Walter…