A wife in London - Thomas Hardy Flashcards
when was hardy alive
during the victorian age
what was his feelings to victorian society and London itself
quite critical, he felt it limited peoples lives and potential for happiness
what was hardy’s thoughts towards war
he opposed it
true or false?
fate features prominently throughout the poem
true
which war does this poem relate to
the second Boer war
how old was hardy when this war broke out
60 - meaning he could not participate and only watch and write about what was happening
what technology was used to transport urgent news between the battle field and Britain
what was used for regular communication
telegrams - urgent
post/mail - regular
what is the importance of this title
- the indefinite article “a” leaves it open for many peoples situations
- London is Englands heart - is hardy alluding to the love shared between the husband and the wife?
what is the significance in clearly splitting the poem into two separate sections but 4 stanzas
could represent how the wife and soldier have been separated
“I - The tragedy”
creates a sense of foreboding and inevitability
“sits”
this verb suggests the powerlessness
“tawny vapour”
this creates an eerie atmosphere
“webby fold on fold”
a sense of entrapment is created
“like a waning taper”
could represent the soldiers untimely death”
“the street - lamp glimmers cold”
the wife will never feel warm again now that her husband has died
“knock cracks”
the consonance makes the phrase harsh and violent, much like the soldiers death
“flashed news”
flashed, suggests that the news was sudden and unexpected
“of meaning it dazes to understand”
unusual syntax could represent the wife’s shock
“-has fallen-“
what effect do the dashes have?
mimic the telegram
they also slow the poems pace - caesura
“has fallen”
euphemistic language has been used to show how the wife cannot or will not accept the news
an ellipsis was used at the end of the second stanza. why has it been used?
suggests that the wife cannot read any more of the telegram
“II - the irony”
intriguing title for the second part of the poem, indicates a slight shift
“the fog hangs thicker”
pathetic fallacy as fog is often associated with feelings of grief, sadness, and depression which the wife is probably feeling
“firelight flicker”
the image could represent the fragility of life
