The Pine Planters: Part 1 Flashcards
Context of the poem
“The Pine Planters” is part of Marty South’s reverie written in 1909. The Poem is coupled with the novel ‘The Woodlanders’ which Hardy wrote around the same time. Marty South inspires the character in ‘The Pine Planters’. Marty South is secretly working in place of her father who is ill in bed. Her job is to hold the trees and knows the woods very well. Marty is a plain and uneducated girl, however she closely observes and falls in love with her partner in work Giles. Unfortunately, Giles never comes to notice or observe her love, as he was in love with another character in the novel. Themes of unrequited love, personification of love and permanence. A reverie is a daydream.
Structural points?
Quatrain (4 line verses)
First 5 verses: Ballad form - ABCB alternate rhyme
Last 3 verses: Change to ABAB, closer rhyme develops a sense of closeness even though she tries to deny it
We can tell that the poem is a reverie, as the first few stanzas have few caesuras. The absence of the caesuras gives the writer leeway to reveal all her true feelings and to daydream. In a sense, the absence of caesuras mean that there is more room for Marty to really display her thoughts, step by step, without taking breaks to hold herself back.
Structure is very simple - reflects Marty’s character
What can you say about the type of language (e.g. adjectives)
Very few adverbs and adjectives - lack of description, shuts down emotions, like her character who is used to simple actions and work
Very simple verbs, straight forward - mainly physical, shows that she is trying to avoid thinking about her feelings and is covering it up with action and work
“We stand here together
In blast and breeze;
He fills the earth in,
I hold the trees.”
“we” - starts with a collective pronoun
“he” and “I” are doing different jobs yet standing together, contradiction
From the first Stanza we can already see the burden Marty carries. Hardy’s use of ‘hold’ carries connotations of maintenance and endurance. Hardy uses this word to symbolise Marty’s long-term work in supporting the man she works with.
“He does not notice
That what I do
Keeps me from moving
And chills me through”
“He does not notice” - creates pathos for her and the unrequited love
“I” “me” “me” - starts with focus on him then goes to her
“keeps me from moving” - paralysed by her feelings, emotion having an effect on the physical
The ‘chills’ she feels depict the pain she inflicts on herself only to be in the presence of her love.
“He has seen one fairer
I feel by his eye.
Which skims me as though
I were not by.”
Rhythm of lines, lifts at ends of first and third lines then falls again
Alternating focus on him and then her
“skims me” - he ignores her, creates pathos
“feel by his eye” - implies that this cause her pain, she is able to realise this just by a look, which has a physical effect on her
“And since she has passed here
He scarce has known
But that the woodland
Holds him alone”
When the “she” is present the “I” is not, separating her from “him” - shows the reality of the love triangle
The ignorance of the man and the isolation he has shown towards her has made her feel no more important than a tree. This is because he does not notice her as a person.
“I have worked here with him
Since morning shine,
He busy with his thoughts
And I with mine.”
First line links “I” and “him” but they are separated, shows physical closeness but emotional distance
“morning shine” - light of optimism, maybe showing how she has always been there with him, even if he doesn’t realise
Here we see Marty claiming her own thoughts for the first time. The word ‘busy’ suggests Marty trying to avoid the fact that his thoughts were not circulating around her, and were elsewhere.
“I have helped him so many,
So many days,
But never win any,
Small word of praise!”
Repetition of “so many” shows her desperation, reiterates how hard she has worked to deserve his love but she doesn’t even get a “small word of praise”
Exclamation mark shows exasperation, exhaustion and desperation
“Shall I not sigh to him
That I work on
Glad to be nigh to him
Though hope is gone?”
Closer rhyme develops they’re closeness as well as the proximity of “I” and “him” - contradicts the message of the verse
“Glad to be nigh to him” - all she wants is to be close to him even though her “hope is gone”
She is also questioning the space if what she is doing is right
“hope” - more abstract word, less physical
“Nay, though he never
Knew love like mine,
I’ll bear it ever
And make no sign!”
Start of verse is more calm - “Nay” - then builds up to exclamation at the end
“bear” - very emotional word, implying pain and as though this is extremely tough for her
