Religious Poetry of Hopkins and Iqbal: A Comparative Study

Abstract

Hopkins and Iqbal have not been explored together although both share many common concerns. In the light of their works and faith, an attempt will be made to establish them as the poets of religious order and their relevance to the modern age. Iqbal was a Muslim and Hopkins a Catholic Christian by faith. Both try to tread the path in their own ways to reach the ultimate. There is a unity of vision between them in the ultimate analysis which can be seen in their different works like Hopkin’sThe Wreck of the Deutschland, Nondum and The Windhover, and Iqbal’s Bal-e-Jibril, Armaghan-e-Hijaz etc. They will be examined to establish the differences / similarities between them. Hopkins is a religious poet who first turns to the exploration of his own personality to test the validity of religious experience. The Wreck of Deutschland, The Habit of Perfection, Nondum and The Windhover are some of his poems with valuable revelation of his spiritual experience. All the poems of Hopkins with the exception of a few imply the presence of a God of infinite goodness and beauty in nature and the deliverance of man from death by faith in God. Iqbal was a Muslim by faith. Indeed the religious motif is the axis on which Iqbal’s whole system of thought revolves, and which is reflected in his poetry as strongly as his prose writings, though he is interested in a wide range of subjects. Religion, philosophy and theology make the same queries about the destiny of man, and these three forces are blended together in Iqbal’s works. Religion is described by Iqbal as a power of utmost importance in the life of individuals as well as nations. Iqbal has tried in both poetical and philosophical ways of expression to manifest his ideal of religion as a force which means to find one’s self. Hence, this research will be an attempt to unfold this unity of vision and perspective. The works of both poets will be minutely analysed for the similarity of their religious content and message. Hopkins and Iqbal use poetry as a means to articulate their convictions. This research will be an attempt to explore the striking relevance between two religious poets of the East and the West. Both of them seek salvation in the spiritual realm of religion. In this research, an attempt will be made to compare and analyse their responses to the modernity of 20th century. The present study will also look for the similarities and dissimilarities in their works