The Enclosure of an Open Mystery: Sacrament and Incarnation in the Writings of Gerard Manley Hopkins, David Jones and Les Murray (Modern Poetry)

The similarities and differences between poetry and worship have intrigued writers since at least the nineteenth century, when John Keble declared that poetic symbols could almost partake of the nature of sacraments. Since then poets, philosophers and literary critics alike have evoked the terms ‘sacrament’ and ‘incarnation’ to make claims about art and poetry. Extending and challenging this critical tradition, this book explores the influence of sacramental belief on the works of three Roman Catholic poets: the nineteenth-century Jesuit priest Gerard Manley Hopkins, the Anglo-Welsh artist David Jones and the Australian poet Les Murray. The author explores the idea that the incarnation and the sacraments embody both God’s immanence and God’s transcendence and argues that Hopkins, Jones and Murray all endeavour to enclose the ‘open mystery’ of the Divine while recognizing that it cannot be imprisoned. The volume sets their writings in conversation with each other’s, as well as with literary, philosophical and theological discourse. The result is a study that shows the wonders, the mysteries and the difficulties of the sacramental worldview and its central place in the writings of these three major Catholic poets. This book explores the influence of sacramental belief on the works of three Roman Catholic poets: nineteenth-century Jesuit priest Gerard Manley Hopkins, Anglo-Welsh artist David Jones and Australian poet Les Murray. The author argues that these poets endeavour to enclose the ‘open mystery’ of the Divine while knowing it cannot be imprisoned. Contents Preface and Acknowledgements Chapter 1 The Enclosure of An Open Mystery Chapter 2 ‘Instressed ... past telling of tongue’: Gerard Manley Hopkins Chapter 3 Containing What Cannot be Contained: David Jones Chapter 4 ‘Caught, not imprisoned’: Les Murray Conclusion ‘The Crisis of Articulation’ Select Bibliography Index The Enclosure Of An Open Mystery -- Instressed : Past Telling Of Tongue : Gerard Manley Hopkins -- Containing What Cannot Be Contained : David Jones -- Caught, Not Imprisoned : Les Murray -- Conclusion: The Crisis Of Articulation. Stephen Mcinerney. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 245-266) And Index.