The Ruined Maid Flashcards
Who is the poet?
Thomas Hardy
How is this poem conveyed?
Through dialogue
Why is ruined repeated throughout?
Because the ruined maid is not ashamed of it and is reclaiming the word
What is interesting about the “said she” speech tag being repeated?
It shows that her words don’t rhyme so speech tag has to be added to maintain the rhyme. This could be seen as her refusing to conform
“And whence such fair garments…
…such prosperity”
“You left us in tatters…
…without shoes or socks”
“You said thee and thou and…
…thick oon and theas oon”
“Some polish is gained…
…with one’s ruin”
“Bewitched by…
…your delicate cheek”
“Little gloves fit…
…as on any lady”
What genre is the poem?
Victorian
What happens to the structure of the final stanza?
The ruined maid interrupts the country girl and takes a second line of dialogue making the stanza equal showing again her taking back the power
What does the caesura in the final line show?
That the bit before is how she speaks in her new life and the bit after is how she spoke before
What is the context historically?
That women especially in the cities were valued on their virginity and if a woman had sex out of marriage she was seen as ruined
Why is the poem satirical?
Because they are saying how ironic it is that despite the woman supposedly being ruined she is the one with an easy life and plenty of money
