The Great Gilly Hopkins

William Wordsworth’s famous poem “Intimations of Immortality” becomes a symbol of Gilly’s search for a place she can call home. Gilly often thinks of her favorite lines from the poem at pivotal moments in the story. When Gilly reads the line “trailing clouds of glory do I come” (38), she feels the words “burst across […] like waves upon a beach” (38). This metaphor shows the emotional connection Gilly feels when she reads the poem. The poem contemplates the idea of belonging, which is something that Gilly struggles with throughout the narrative.

The symbolism of the poem becomes richer for Gilly when she learns that one’s home is the place where one is loved and unconditionally accepted.

The photograph of Courtney that Gilly has hidden in her luggage symbolizes how much Gilly wishes for a deeper connection with her biological mother and the impossibility of her achieving this wish. Gilly prizes the photo and frequently looks at it, which shows how much Gilly loves Courtney and wishes she was a part of her life.

However, Gilly does not know very much about Courtney at all. When Gilly looks at the photo, she compares Courtney to the “star of some TV show” (9).