Neutral Tones

Question 1

Author:

Answer 1

Hardy

Question 2

‘We stood by a pond’

• MEMORY
• NATURE

Answer 2

‘Pond’ = body of water, perhaps suggesting an open space of possibility and opportunity – but not as wide open as the ocean. The sense is of having possibilites and at the same time not having them.
The pond shows how speaker, much like the water, is reflecting upon their relationship in a negative and slightly distorted way.

Question 3

‘Sun was white’

- NATURE

Answer 3

Sunshine is more commonly thought of as yellow, symbolizing radiance, happiness, and life, but here sun is bleached of all colour.
It is neutral in the literal sense, recalling the poem’s title, and metaphorically stripped of its life - giving properties by an angry God.

Question 4

‘Fallen from ash, and were grey’

- DEATH

Answer 4

Recalls the poem’s title and once more brings up associations with death, as in the funeral service — ‘ashes to ashes, dust to dust’.
However, ash trees are also symbols of growth but leaves of an ash tree are dead, could symbolise lack of growth in their relationship.
Also the use of ‘ash’ suggests the presence of a fire before it burned out; this is indicative of the passion that died out between the lovers.

Question 5

Compare with:

Answer 5

Winter Swans / The Farmer’s Bride - nature to reflect troubled relationships
Eden Rock - power of memory (positive rather than negative)