Title Of Paper : The Hippopotamus Is Not A Church

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Term Paper Title	Title Of Paper : The Hippopotamus Is Not A Church
# of Words	796
# of Pages (250 words per page double spaced)	3.18

Title of Paper : "The Hippopotamus" is not a Church
Grade Received on Report : 100

"The Hippopotamus" is not a Church

In "The Hippopotamus," T. S. Eliot uses irony and contrasting metaphors to illustrate the secularity of the
Christian Church and the spirituality of mankind.  It is a satirical look at the establishment of Christianity.
The hippopotamus in the poem is a metaphor for mankind and the True Church is a metaphor for
Christianity.  There are several sharp ironies that emphasize the dichotomy of the professed ideals of
Christianity and reality.  The whole poem is ironical because it does not portray Christianity as the path to
heaven.  The awkward hippopotamus is celebrated by the heavenly hosts.  The author  illustrates these
points by contrasting images of the Church with aspects of the plodding, modest hippopotamus.  These
contrasts are juxtaposed in the same stanza to make the author's point.  The techniques of irony and
contrasting metaphors may be found in four representative stanzas.

The first stanza of the poem contrasts the hippopotamus with a Church clique.  The first two lines of the
first stanza describe, "The broad-backed hippopotamus."  He is resting on,"His belly in the mud,...."  This
description gives the image of a big hippopotamus contently lying in the mud.  The last two lines,
"...Although he seems so firm to us He is merely flesh and blood,"   contrast with the contented
hippopotamus image.  The line "...Merely flesh and blood," is an often used Christian cliché used to
trivialize man's existence on earth..  "Merely" minimizes,"...Flesh and blood."  A portrayal of an individual
made from flesh and blood might otherwise be considered a strength.  The author has juxtaposed this cliché
with the image of the firm, content hippopotamus.  This contrast illustrates Christianity's failure to validate
mankind's few contentment's. The popular image of Christianity is a protector of humanity.  The irony is
this stanza is that the Christian cliché is u!
sed to undermine humanity.

The third stanza begins with, "The hippopotamus's steps may err In compassing material ends,...."  The
faltering hippopotamus illustrates mankind's tendency to fumble in his attempt to make ends meet.
Mankind, the hippopotamus, must work hard to survive.  If at first he does not succeed, he must try again.
His existence is at stake.  This representation of mankind is contrasted with the image of, "...The True
Church need ne...

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