'A Wife In London,' by Thomas Hardy (a Victorian poem) Flashcards
1
Q
Like a waning taper…
A
Like a waning taper / The street-lamp glimmers cold.
2
Q
A messenger’s…
A
A messenger’s knock cracks smartly
3
Q
He - has…
A
He - has fallen - in the far South Land …
4
Q
His hand…
A
His hand, whom the worm now knows
5
Q
Page-full
A
Page-full of his hoped return
6
Q
What is it about?
A
It is a tragic war story about a woman who learns of her husband’s death then (ironically) receives a hope-filled letter from him the very next day.
7
Q
Which war does it refer to?
A
The Boer War - a fight against the Dutch over land in the south of Africa.
8
Q
Why was the war unpopular?
A
It was a fight over a faraway land, and many men died of foreign diseases.
9
Q
What was Hardy known for being interested in?
A
He was known for being interested in unpleasant coincidences.
