# That Blessed Hope explained — Poetry

> Chapter companion for Poetry by Frances Ellen Watkins Harper.

## What happens

The chapter is a poetic meditation on the blessed hope of eternal rest and salvation, drawing comfort from the faith of the patriarchs and longing for Christ's reign and the crown of life.

## Themes in this chapter

### Hope and Redemption

The entire poem centers on the blessed hope of eternal rest and the crown of life, offering redemption from worldly sorrow.

### Faith and Divine Justice

The narrator draws on the faith of the patriarchs and trusts in Christ's coming reign as an anchor for the soul.

## Character check-ins

### Unknown Narrator

The speaker expresses a personal clinging to blessed hope amid worldly strife.

### Christ

The narrator longs for Christ to reign and bring the crown of life.

## Key lines

> Oh! crush it not, that hope so blest, Which cheers the fainting heart, And points it to the coming rest, Where sorrow has no part.

Do not destroy this blessed hope that comforts the weary heart and directs it toward a future peace free from all grief.

_The opening stanza establishes hope as a sustaining force pointing to eternal rest._

> It cheer’d amid the days of old Each holy patriarch’s breast; It was an anchor to their souls, Upon it let me rest.

This same hope comforted the ancient patriarchs and served as an anchor for their souls; I too want to rely on it.

_The narrator connects personal hope to the faith of biblical patriarchs._

> Help me, amidst this world of strife, To long for Christ to reign, That when He brings the crown of life, I may that crown obtain!

Assist me in this troubled world to yearn for Christ's rule, so that when He offers the crown of eternal life, I may receive it.

_The closing lines express a prayer for perseverance and the ultimate reward of salvation._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_7_se/chapters/that-blessed-hope
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_7_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_7_se/chapters