Nuetral Tones Flashcards
Who is the poet and what context is behind the poem
Thomas hardy
He uses pessimistic type of writing and faced many disappointing relationship s
What’s the form of the lines show
First and last lines rhyme which reflect how Memory of past returns to affect him in present
What’s the stanza structures
First 3 stanzas centre around a specific memory
Last stanza - Time jump where the narrator reflects on his love in general
What’s the structure of the poem and what does is portray
Cyclical structure as the poem begins and ends at a pond which shows how he’s repeatedly hurt by that day
What’s the ref to of the monosyllabic words
‘Day’ & ‘grey’ creates a deadening effect at end of each line
How does the setting introduce the poem
On a ‘winters day’ creates a powerful image
They are ‘stood’ by a pond which emphasises the lifeless nature
Line on the words are simple and create a deadening effect which hint at grief and the ‘neutral time’ of the poem
What are the themes in the poem
Loss
death
Memory
Nature
How is the landscape described as loss through what technique
Pathetic fallacy It's drained of colour > leaves are grey > sun is white It mirrors the death of their relationship and reflects speakers depressed attitude
What language techniques are used to portray death
Oxymoron of lover smile
‘Deadest thing/ alive’ emphasises how the two words don’t fit together like the two people in the relationship don’t fit
Also how the relationship is dead and the speaker feels dead emotions towards lover now
What did his language suggest
And what word reflects what
He is struggling using language associated with death pain and punishment
Also historic words like ‘ chidden’ reflect the idea of how he is stuck in the past
The word ‘and’ is repeated to reflect poets fustratioj and his angry outburst
How is pathetic fallacy used
Reflect their feelings being emotionally cold towards each other
‘Winter day’
‘Sun was white’
What’s the mood of the poem
Slow pace and frequent repetition of ‘and’ creates a listless tone reflecting narrators pessimism
What is the form of poem and what’s its effect
Romanticism
It reflects how he’s stuck in the past, romanticism is a historic form of poetry
What does the title portray
Ambiguous title
Neutral tones is suggesting nature has no life
The poem could be seen as a romantic poem however it’s got a twist to it as it portrays how nature has no life this could mean how hardy is challenging the romantisicm theory
What other form could the poem be in
Dramatic monologue, never hear from person being spoken to
