Extended commentary of During Wind and Rain by Thomas Hardy Essay Example for Free

Extended commentary of During Wind and Rain by doubting Thomas intrepid EssayOn the Title An ambiguous and interesting choice of title, in that it is as I will luff some(prenominal) incongruous with the tense (or era-scale) utilise in the poem and draws the readers attention to descriptions of the hold. The word during makes the weather conditions affect the picture. However, the poem is mostly written in the historic present and many of the stanzas depict checks of bright, amiable days not the wind and rain alluded to in the title. There is clearly an intentional discrepancy being orchestrated here by audacious.Quote SLS Bew ar during, the incongruous preposition.Overall Structure Four stanzas of seven capers, with a truly strange ( only if regular) poetry scheme. dauntless uses a very odd structure indeed. The rhyme scheme utilised in the poem consists of ABCBCDA.There be multiple effects of this* The genius-sixth absorb in the stanza breaks the poetic flow of the stanza, as it is the scarce tenor not to rhyme with another hence acting like a mid-stanzaic volta. It draws attention to itself. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that the sixth line of every stanza breaks away from the pedestal of familial happiness mixed in the front five lines, and turns the subject to the severalizeing theme of wipeout. Observe the refrains used* The drawn break A rhyme encompasses the entirety of each stanza. Given that the last line (about death) is linked to the branch (about life), is insolent trying to show the unavoidable connection of life and death?* Seven lines to each stanza perhaps establish a week, just as the four stanzas represent the seasons? Very poor allusion.Themes conclusion, Family life, Time, The Seasons.Difficult Language Notes gayly means happily.First Stanza NotesThey sing their deargonst songs He, she, all of them yea,Treble and tenor and bass,And mavin to playWith the candles mooning each faceAh, no, th e eld OHow the sick leaves reel down in throngsThis poem is one full of re courtition and refrain. The general layout of each stanza, in terms of theme, organisation and repetition of certain lines, the Great Compromiser constant. Each stanza, for example, opens with an image of a family presumably the aforementioned(prenominal) one throughout in a place, or carrying out an action, in a unified and happy way. This stanza evokes a scene of the Victorian family gathered, singing, a orotund a piano (one to play), as piano playing and sing-a-long was, of course, very common in Hardys time.Note how he only uses personal pronouns distancing effect?Hardy goes to perhaps extreme lengths to show the familys unity. On a critical note, one could criticise his rather inefficient use of the counterbalance four lines of this poem, but that is not our aim. Some analysis* They sing their dearest songs. Note the use of a superlative adjective in dearest. It is the first of many. We may query its meaning perhaps it indicates a certain reverence to familial attitude, both(prenominal) in Hardy and in the family itself. They are enjoying it* He, she, all of them. Illustrates a togetherness within the family one which (as Hardy will later comment upon) last inevitably overcomes. The following line regarding the different tuneful voice (Treble and tenor and bass) illustrates a similar thing, but is used to point out that goal affects all elements of family, regardless of age. How very depressing were only at line 3 Even better, he does this in all stanzas.* yea Note use of conversational (conversational) affirmative. Not only is it used to force play the rhyme scheme, but it contrasts with the later Ah, no, which is negative. Hardy does this in all stanzas. Without jumping ahead, however, it is simply a friendly comment of approval.* With the candles mooning each face Night time scene. Interesting, visual perception as it contrasts with the other images presented, whic h are all in bright daylight.* Ah, no the years O Thus we encounter the inter-stanzaic volta. Not only does the rhyme scheme depart from regularity (We label the sixth line in all stanzas the D rhyme, as it is the only line not to use up a rhyming companion). It signifies a departure from the pleasant theme of the unadulterated joy of family life, and an arrival at the theme of its death or the fact that it is all going to pass eventually. As sooner mentioned, the Ah, no contrasts with the previous affirmative. The actual sense of this line is rather obscure. We assume that Hardy is implicitly commenting on the fact that the years take away/ damage the family life as they pass, so does the family and its happiness. O is an interpellation, expressing sadness or mourning for the family.* How the sick leaves reel down in throngs Hardy furthers his ideas about death. present is a line referring to the fall-blooming decay of life leaves falling and the way in which it precedes Death. Note how the leaves, when considered in throngs, may represent wad? In the same way, a reel is a type of dance is this (a slightly sick) dance of death? Unlikely, but we essential remember that Hardy has no qualms with tragic irony.Second Stanza NotesThey clear the creeping moss Elders and juniors aye, make the pathways neat and the garden gayAnd they build a laughable seatAh, no the years, the years assist the white storm-birds wing crosswiseOnce again, Hardy begins his stanza with an image of the family, this time in the garden presumably in spring, as suggested by the fact that they are clearing the carcass of winter (the creeping moss), whilst he describes the garden as gay. One can immediately recognise the structural similarities shared with the first stanza, as intimately as the meaning behind the pleasant image.* Note that Hardy now observes that both Elders and juniors participate again, he differentiates between the different members of the family, but now u ses the factor of age, as opposed to musical voices. This serves only to streng indeed the original analysis that unity may be visible and, indeed, enjoyable, but it is only fleeting in the face of Death. Lovely* Observe how the familys actions are arranged around both making the place neat/pretty and around comfort. Making pathways neat and building a shady seat have only temporary effects upon happiness the moss will grow back, the pathways will fail untidy in time, when winter (representing Death and decay) comes. Thus we find that Hardy is setting up, within his pleasant image, the backdrop upon which he wishes to point out that all happiness, joy and life itself is fleeting.* Or is it an image of the futility of tender-hearted feat the weather will erode the order imposed upon it, and ultimately Death will take to the woods?* On an aside evidence for the scene being set in spring if the seat is shady, then surely the sun must be out in broad daylight not a symptom comm only associated with the Wintry illnessAh, no the years, the yearsSee the white storm-birds wing acrossAnd yet, on cue, Hardy revives his alternative theme this time with a slightly different D rhyme/phrase. The colloquial negative remains, but Hardy uses the echo of the years to emphasize the passage of time. He uses the same phrase in the fourth stanza, yet repeats the primary ejaculation in the third stanza (they alternate).The final line of the stanza is rather interesting. Storm-birds sound like mythical beasts perhaps the extremity of phrase reflects that of Death? yet they are most likely geese, flying away before Winter comes. It is not as disturbing an image as that of the leaves reeling, but it again points to the same idea. The use of strong verbs in all final lines in all stanza adds to their strength reel in Stanza One, wing in the second, etc. To wing itself is an unusual choice, perhaps adding to a sense of the supernatural. Think back to Neutral Tones and the omin ous bird a-wing. The verb has the same effect here. tertiary Stanza NotesThey are blithely breakfasting all Men and maidens yea,Under the summer tree,With a glance of the bay,While pet fowl come to the kneeAh, no the years OAnd the rotten rose is ript from the wall.Here Hardy is at last explicit about the season and its effects much as Autumn and Winter are representative of Death and decay, spring and summer bear idyllic delights. In this stanza, we find ourselves in the latter.One cannot overdo the emphasis which Hardy applies to the seasons. He pictures human life as tragically linear, whilst examine it to the inevitably cyclical seasons. In the end, the seasons especially Winter bring about the decay of a finite life. And yet, to begin with, this stanza suggests that the family are blissfully unaware of that fact.* Once again, we find the family in unity and happy seeing as they are blithely breakfasting suggesting a disregard for the potential decay and sadness. They app ear to live in the happy present.* It has been suggested that the family have now grown up, seeing as they are now described as Men and maidens as opposed to Elders and juniors. Side point no way to substantiate claim. Of course, now Hardy differentiates between them using sex all the more differences which Death can overcome.* Allusions to an Arcadian ideal a perfect landscape, full of happiness are impossible to avoid. Under the summer tree / With a glimpse of the bay it sounds more like Tuscany than Britain Of course, Hardy is not that explicit. The bay may just as well be a bay tree, as much as a bit of coastland. Still, the image remains idyllic. And yet, I Death am here.* The pet fowl may represent a further theme of happiness domesticated or unsophisticated livestock have always been kept for the happiness of ones stomach or ones heart. Either will do. More human endeavour to be laid waste to by Death?Here, as usual, the poem breaks away and returns to the original eja culation about the years passing. Note how the O lengthens the line it slows the reader down. Otherwise analysed above.The final image aware of Death, however, is of our greatest interestThe rotten rose is ript from the wall.Again, an ambiguous phrase creates the sense of sickening mystery which Death itself possesses. Not only does the obvious alliteration of the r sound mount both the tension and force placed upon the final verb, but it also mirrors the ugly nature of the act itself. Ript is merely an archaic recite of ripped the sense is the same and bears the same strength.Yet who, or what, rips up the rose? Obviously, the image is representative of Death claiming a life the verb suggests an unpleasant or untimely death. Quote SLS A complete breaking from life. Perhaps we can extrapolate this further to make a comment on the roughness of Death in Hardys eyes? It may well be the wind. This would fit with the title, although we must still ponder the incongruous preposition, during. Perhaps the entire image is metaphorical, and Death is simply tearing a previously beautiful flower (rotten is probably representative of old) away from life? fourth Stanza NotesThey change to a high new house,He, she, all of them aye,Clocks and carpets and chairsOn the lawn all day,And the brightest things that are theirsAh, no the years, the yearsDown their carved label the rain-drop ploughs.Clearly the family have grown wealthier, to move house and, it seems, they have moved quite literally up in the world, as it is a high one. One may question whether this stanza overly reflects upon the materialistic joys of the world. Maybe that is Hardys intention. I doubt, however, that this is an explicit attack upon those who take to be material objects rather a memento mori, in that, despite the temporary pleasure of wealth and possessions, Death will always claim victory. Deeper analysis* Note how we have returned to He, she, all of them. Have we come round in a full generati onal cycle?* The weather remains good, as the family display their possessions on the lawn, presumably as they either prepare to move them to the new house from the old, or simply before they have been properly installed. Clearly Hardy is using summer to represent joy and prosperity.* The language bears itsy-bitsy complexity hence little analysis Is this done to reflect the simple, but enjoyable, pleasures of materialistic desires and good weather?* Brightest things which are theirs. Note another superlative. Relevance/ importance, other than to add emphasis?(Have previously analysed the secondary ejaculation. direct repeated.)The final image of the poem is possibly the most interesting, dramatic and explicit.Down their carved names the rain-drop ploughs.Here Hardy at last makes an explicit reference to the subject of death, in that their carved names are grave stones, whilst also tying in the title (with the reference to the weather). Primarily, we are shocked by the contrast cl early, Hardy is imagining the same individuals with whom we are now familiar (as the family) as being dead. They have been buried. This is a very sudden and rather upsetting realisation. Hardy very successfully makes his point about the frailty and lay nature of life. Their successes and happiness are irrelevant. How depressingWorse, Hardy suggests that the weather erodes them not only in life, but also destroys (ploughs) their memory in death the rain drop appears to be eroding away the names from the stones. This insensitivity contrasts with the use of names, which are highly personal.Perhaps, however, Hardy intends ploughs to be positive. As in the agricultural sense, the rain drop prepares for new growth?Final note Is the narrator writing the poem in the grave-yard? Are the images he recollects merely his memories of a family now dead the images of Death are all misadventure around him during wind and rain? Clever point. Perhaps.