He Never Expected Much By Thomas Hardy Flashcards
Context
Published posthumously (after dying)
Reflective on a life not-well lived
This helps emphasise the tragedy
Form
3 octaves - ballad form
Some rhyme scheme
Gives the poem a musical element (nursery / childrens rhyme) which is usually uplifting and happy - ironic: he uses this poem to talk about depression sadness and pessimissm
Uses the childlike form to teach a moral
Tone
Disappointed
Resigned
Melancholic
Disillusioned
Message
Staying realistic us a good thing - you should never expect a lot from life because it only causes hurt and disillusion (ironic because he seems disappointed despite his advise)
‘Expect disappointment and you won’t be disappointed’
‘For life I never cared greatly’
Well, World, You have kept faith with me,
Kept faith with me;
Upon the whole you have proved to be
Much as you said you were.
Capitalisation of World: personification (reflective) - addressing the world but is really being reflective and speaking to himself
Repetition ‘kept faith with me’: upbeat sing song like tone - makes you except an upbeat theme (misleading)
The world is being what was expected is ironic because he still seems disappointed by the end
Since as a child I used to lie
Upon the leaze and watch the sky,
Never, I own, expected I
That life would all be fair.
‘Child’: innocence and naivety of not knowing - contrasted by his ‘wisdom’ being presented in this first stanza (he always knew not to expect anything)
Pictoresque imagery: misleading and ironic because the tone is nothing like what we expected from the first few lines- makes us expect something different in the poem (represents the message being displayed: nothing is what you expect)
Setting the tone: miserable (slight shift from the start)
Although the world was honest, he never expected it to be fair
‘Twas then you said, and since have said,
Times since have said,
In that mysterious voice you shed
From clouds and hills around:
Repetition of said: emphasises the advice the world has given him - there is an insistance that suggests anger and aggression (holding the world accountable for disappointing him). Contradicts first stanza because this suggests the world wasnt what it said it was.
The ‘voice’ is the world: very godly/heavenly imagery makes us believe he is referring to God. (God requires faith - which he has none of and emphasises the realism he lives by)
Many have loved me desperately,
Many with smooth serenity,
While some have shown contempt of me
Till they dropped underground.
Presenting many views towards the world / life:
- optimism
- love
- hate
Creates a sense of vanity by the ‘dropped underground’ - no matter your view of the world you will die anyway (no point) - it’s best to avoid being disappointed
‘I do not promise overmuch,
Child; overmuch;
Just neutral-tinted haps and such,’
You said to minds like mine.
‘Child’: refers to the innocence of the first stanza of not knowing what the world held for him - suggests that he doesn’t know anymore and lost knowledge/confidence - disappointment
‘Neutral-tinted haps and such’ is vague and suggests dullness and colourless - he knew life would be boring yet couldn’t expect anything from the evasive nature of the comment.
Wise warning for your credit’s sake!
Which I for one failed not to take,
And hence could stem such strain and ache
As each year might assign.
‘Your credit’s sake’ world’s reputation of being wise and always knowing best (slight sarcasm: makes us believe the advice is given for his reputation’s sake and maybe isn’t all true - further emphasised by the end)
He followed the advice the world gave him and never expected anything from the world and as a result was able to avoid (stem) sorrow and pain in his life
This is ironic because he claims to have avoided pain with pessimissm yet has a consistently disappointed tone throughout the poem - makes the reader question whether he actually followed the advice or if the advice is the best policy to take
