Harvest- Themes

Question 1

Displacement and Change

Answer 1

-> The Enclosure Acts force the traditional farming community into displacement, reflecting societal change
Outsiders: The arrival of strangers symbolises the fear of the “other” and the community’s resistance to change
Fire Imagery: The burning of the newcomers’ hut foreshadows the village own destruction

Question 2

Power and Injustice

Answer 2

-> Master Kent and Jordan exploit the community for their own gain, mirroring broader systems of class oppression
Symbolism: The manor becomes a symbol of the unequal distribution of wealth and power
Walter Thirsk: His shifting loyalties highlight the complexities of community dynamics under pressure

Question 3

Nautre and Humanity

Answer 3

-> Crace intertwines the land with human life, emphasizing how industrization distrupts the balance
Imagery: The harvest is described with reverence, but its exploitation reflects humanity’s growing disconnection from nature

Question 4

Fear and Scapegoating

Answer 4

-> The community scapegoats the newcomers for their troubles, reflecting societal tendencies to blame the venerable
Parallel To Modern Issues: Themes of xenophobia and feat of outsiders resonate with contemporary political issues