Lafford, E. (2011) Elizabeth Bishop's 'Dappled Thing': Visual Counterpoint and Devotional Attention in 'The Man-Moth'. Literature and theology, Vol.25 (No.3). pp. 252-267. doi:10.1093/litthe/frr021

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Abstract

This article argues that the hitherto neglected theological dimensions of Elizabeth Bishop's 'The Man-Moth' can be opened up by reading it through Bishop's interest in the work of Gerard Manley Hopkins and Simone Weil. Specifically, I argue that Hopkins and Weil offer Bishop an attentive model of interpretation in which the reader is invited to become externally aware (of the poem's form) and internally devotional (to the poem's experiential dimension). Where Hopkins forwards a contrapuntal way of looking at the world, one he defines as 'dappled' in 'Pied Beauty', Weil develops a theological understanding of attention as a way of encouraging us into a patient and compassionate relationship with the world. In using Hopkins and Weil to read Bishop's poem, I revise current critical conceptions of Hopkins' poetic counterpoint as visual (rather than musical), and then use this double way of looking to explore the devotional experience 'The Man-Moth' offers the reader.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Subjects:	P Language and Literature > PN Literature (General)
Divisions:	Faculty of Arts > English and Comparative Literary Studies
Journal or Publication Title:	Literature and theology
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
ISSN:	0269-1205
Official Date:	2011
Dates:	Date Event 2011 Published
Volume:	Vol.25
Number:	No.3
Number of Pages:	16
Page Range:	pp. 252-267
DOI:	10.1093/litthe/frr021
Status:	Peer Reviewed
Publication Status:	Published
Access rights to Published version:	Restricted or Subscription Access

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