A Wife in London Flashcards

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1
Q

who wrote a wife in london

A

Thomas hardy

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2
Q

what war is the poem about

A

the Boer war (1899-1902)

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3
Q

why did hardy write the poem

A

to criticise the war and show the impact it had on people and their families

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4
Q

what was hardy’s attitude to war

A

he strongly opposed to it

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5
Q

“she sits in the ______ _____”

A

“she sits in the TAWNY VAPOUR”

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6
Q

what is the poem about

A

a wife being hopeful of the return of her husband but later out he has ‘fallen’ and receives a letter of his hoped returns. The letter is a contrast to the misery of London

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7
Q

how is London described in the opening line

A
  • ominous
  • cold
  • silent
  • gloomy
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8
Q

why is pathetic fallacy used

A

to create tragedy

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9
Q

why is assonance used

A

the repetition of the vowel O reflects mourning

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10
Q

“______ folds”

A

“WEBBY folds”

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11
Q

what were the two sections the poem is split into

A

the tragedy

the irony

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12
Q

why is the poem organised into two sections

A

to show her double suffering. first the news of her husband’s death and second his hoped return about their future together

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13
Q

example of a euphemism

A

“he has fallen”

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14
Q

why is euphemism used

A

to suggest she cannot cope with the harsh reality

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15
Q

“_____ news’’

A

“FLASHED news”

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16
Q

what does the line “web folds” suggest and what could it mean

A

a spider web. this implies the wife is trapped by fog which could represent grief or sorrow

17
Q

why is the word “flashed” effective

A

suggests the news was brief and shocking.

18
Q

what could the verb “flashed” suggest about the delivery of the news

A

it was quick and heartlessly delivered. this could show the lack of personal connection during a rough time

19
Q

“of new _____ they would _____”

A

“of new LOVE they would LEARN”

20
Q

“like a waning ____”

A

“like a waning TAPER”

21
Q

what could the quote “of new love they would learn” emphasise

A

the tragedy as there is no longer hope for “new love”. the future is bleak

22
Q

what could the simile “like a waning taper” show

A

Adds gloom. a candle could symbolise the hope, happiness and light but the image implies these aspects are being extinguished.

23
Q

“the ___ hangs _____”

A

“the FOG hangs THICKER”

24
Q

what could the line “the fog hangs thicker” suggest

A
  • ‘fog’ symbolises the weight of grief
  • ‘hangs’ creates sense of doom
  • ‘thicker’ implies sense of confusion and obscurity