Awakening the Dream of Gerontius

The publication of his Apologia pro Vita Sua (1864) brought Newman back into contact with many of his Anglican friendstwo of whom gifted him with a violin. In his letter of appreciation, Newman mused: “Perhaps thought is music.” Such would seem to be the case with his poem, The Dream of Gerontius (1865), which was set to music by Sir Edward Elgar (1900). This essay explores the relationship between Newman’s Apologia and The Dream of Gerontius and then analyzes the latter’s structure and content and compares it with other Christian classics.