Neutral tones Flashcards
language
“we stood by the pond on that winter day”- metaphor of stilness showing the lack of movement in their relationship, furthermore a “winter day” perhaps mirrors their relationship as it is drained of it’s warmth and love
“grin of bitterness”- juxtaposition, showing how love can deteriorate over time as well as encouraging duplicity within the persons in the relationship, an unconventional perspective of love
“pond edged with grayish leaves”- the adjective of grayish hints at the lifelessness within the relationship as there is a lack of colour and love within the leaves emphasising the worthlessness within the relationship
structure
there is a cyclical structure, starts with a pond, ends with a pond, showing a lack of closure within the relationship and perhaps showing the solitude within the narrarator
polysydeton, repition of “and” throughout, showing the furstration within the narrarator and perhaps the inevitability of society into belieivng that love is infinite but in actuality it is finite
form
constant us of abba rhyme, showing again the lack of movement in the relationship, he takes solace in regularity avoding the dire problems evoked in the rest of this poem
conext
Thomas hardy had a depressing experience with love as his wife emma was fertile enough to have a child, and their relationship deteorated over time
he is said to have an almost nihilistic view on love due to his sorrowful relationship with emma. His philosphy is shown throughout the poem
his childhood was said to be filled with poverty and isolation, affecting his livelihood in his later life and his saddening view of the meaning of love.
Links
she walks in beauty
