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 never stir...."  The Church has no need to support itself and therefore it does not labor.  The 
Church is opulent and has no concern for the daily trials of mankind.  This is a depiction of a slothful 
Church.  The irony is twofold.  The Church is illustrated by a sloth which Christians call a deadly sin.  
Additionally, it is ironical that Christianity has so little concern for the condition mankind, when, it 
considers itself a protector of humanity.
 
 In the sixth stanza, all of the hippopotamus's time is chronicled.  All his waking time is required for 
hunting.  He must hunt all night.  The only time left in the, "...Day Is passed in sleep."  The hippopotamus 
has no time for play.  Mankind's survival depends on his constant effort.  This image contrasts distinctly 
with the image of the church which "...Can sleep and feed at once...."  Here the Christian culture is 
portrayed with the ultimate image of greed and sloth.  It is ironical that the Church is portrayed with two 
vices it calls deadly sins.  The final irony in this stanza is in the third line, " God does work in a mysterious 
way,...."  This satirical line aludes to the author's true meaning in the poem.  The common examples of 
Christianity are the worst examples of Christianity.  

In the final stanza, the hippopotamus is, "...White as snow."  This image portrays humanity's return  to all 
that is good and holy,  mankind's natural state.  While the Christianity image contrasts with "...The True 
Church remains below Wrapt in the old miasmal mist."  This is Christianity's true state.  It is ironic that the 
Church is described by a putrescence, disease causing mist.  The choice of the word, "Wrapt," seems to 
indicate that Christianity made a conscious choice between achieving it's professed goals or maintaining it's 
worldly position.  This certainly is not the normal portrayal of Christianity.  Additional irony is found in the 
second line, "By all the martyr'd virgins kist,...."  Christians killed the majority of these martyrs.

The author has juxtaposed images to show the differences between the hippopotamus and the "True 
Church."  These images constituted metaphors for  mankind and Christianity.  The splattering of irony 
assists the reader in interpreting the tone of the author's work.  The hippopotamus is an ungainly animal and 
the Church is associated with holiness and grace.  It is ironical that the hippopotamus is welcomed by the 
heavenly masses while Christianity is not.