chapter 2 quotes Flashcards
“A E A S R F T M P U”
“An engirdled and secluded region, for the most part untrodden”
- topography and location reflects Tess’s isolation and natural beauty
“untrodden” - reflects her purity
“C L.. I W T K B A C T D L L O A B W H”
“Curious legend.. in which the killing by a certain Thomas de La Lund of a beautiful white hart”
- symbolic of Tess, introduced to us wearing a white frock
- play on words “hart” and “heart”- Tess’s good heart, nature and virtue
- Both the deer and Tess become victims of their surroundings and are both hunted for their beauty
“T F E O T”
“The first exhibitions of themselves”
- referring to club walking
- “exhibitions”, objectifying themselves
“E H A P L S F H S T B I”
“Each had a private little sun for her soul to bask in”
- omniscient narrative voice which pulls out of the story
- living in their own world, unaffected by experience
- blissfully unaware
“C A M T”
“Cheerfulness and may time”
- new beginnings, prosperity and life
“W F”
“white frocks”
- each of the women represent purity and innocence, image of brides
“P W W”
“peeled willow wand”
- willow wand used to represent the Bride/ the earth goddess
- Hardy celebrating nature
“C H”
“country hoydens”
- said by Angel’s brother to degrade and dismiss the idea of dancing with the girls
- shows the snobbery of the upperclass
- importance of social class at the time
“M P M”
“mobile peony mouth”
- used to describe tess
- slow- growing flower
- emphasises her natural beauty
- connection of women and nature
“L I E”
“large innocent eyes”
- used to describe Tess
- frequent mention of her eyes throughout the novel
- child-like sense
“R R I H H… T O O O T W C W C B S A A”
“Red ribbon in her hair.. the only one of the white company who could boast such an adornment”
- symbol of Tess’ pride and her desire to stand out, wants to be seen
- ‘adornment’- piece of decor, takes pride in her looks
“P U D R M’
“pouted up deep red mouth”
- two perceptions of Tess which Hardy offers
- the innocent, child-like and pure
- the potential provocative and suggestive
“A M V O E U B E”
“a mere vessel of emotion, untinctured by experience”
- ‘emotion’ is what drives Tess, which may reflect her irrationality
- emphasises her innocence and bliss
“P A C”
“pick and choose’
- one of the “bolder” women of the club tells Angel
- theme of social class
- higher classes have that ability to “pick and choose” while the country girls have to passively wait for his decision
“P, A S, M R, T D L, D N H T I H L B A Y”
“Pedigree, ancestral skeletons, monumental record, the D’Urberville lineaments, did not help Tess in her life’s battle as yet”
- the use of a list emphasises the futile discovery of their heritage, it is pointless knowledge and ultimately leads to Tess’ destruction rather than her triumph
- “life’s battle”, Tess’ life has been nothing short of difficult representative of the poor in Victorian England
