Neutral Tones Flashcards
What type of poem is it?
Romantic poem
What are the key themes of neutral tones?
Loss
Longing
Heartbreak
What is the tone of neutral tones?
Bitterness
Pessimism
What is the context of neutral tones?
The pessimism may be linked to his unhappy first marriage or his discontent with 19th Century industrialisation and the loss of traditional country ways which he held so dear - he was from Dorset
What is the form and structure of neutral tones?
The first three stanzas recall the day by the pond, whilst the final stanza jumps forward in time to show that the memory is still foremost in his mind – and has tainted his view of love
The final line of each stanza is indented - creates a pause which slows the pace and reflects his sadness
The poem ends with imagery of the pond and surrounding leaves - like in the first stanza - cyclical structure confirms the lingering, and inescapable, pain
“Gray” repeated
What is the meaning and purpose of neutral tones?
The narrator recalls the day when he realised that a relationship had ended - had to face the inevitable
He and his lover were stood by a pond - describes how her eyes and smile revealed her feelings: he believes that she had become bored and fallen out of love with him
The final stanza is in the present, and conveys how he still thinks about that fateful day, and how he has lost faith in love
“The smile on your mouth was the deadest thing”
Juxtaposition
What changes with the pronouns?
Goes from ‘we’ to ‘ours’ and ‘us’ - their love is fading more and they are growing further apart
“Sun was white,”
Lack of colours throughout the poem - lack of life between characters
The colour white has connotations of purity and angelic associations- juxtaposes ‘chidden of God’
“Your eyes on me were as eyes that rove // over tedious riddles of years ago;”
Eyes - window to the soul
“Were” - past tense - deep level of understanding is gone
Enjambement between lines - creates a distance
“Years ago” - shows loss of love over time
