5.1.1
Summary & Structure
Summary of Neutral Tones
Summary of Neutral Tones
Thomas Hardy's Neutral Tones is about two lovers coming to the end of their relationship.
Summary
Summary
- The poem follows two lovers coming to the end of their relationship, as they stand next to a pond in winter.
- The weather and the landscape reflect the stagnation (standing still) of their relationship and the bitterness between them.
- Hardy uses ominous imagery throughout to signal the end of their connection and the bitter mourning his narrator feels at the end of the poem.
Hardy
Hardy
- Thomas Hardy was the author of novels such as Tess of the d’Urbervilles.
- He was known for the dark realism (focusing on presenting reality) of his prose.
Context
Context
- Neutral Tones is focused on an earlier, failed relationship.
- We see a relationship that has stagnated (stopped moving) and frozen. It is like the stillness and lack of vitality (life) in the winter setting of the poem.
Structure and Form of Neutral Tones
Structure and Form of Neutral Tones
The poem is a lyric poem with a circular structure.
Circular structure
Circular structure
- The poem has a circular structure as the first line is echoed in the final line.
- This creates a sense of frustration. It reflects the narrators’ awareness that his relationship is over, and that he is stuck in his feelings of sadness and disappointment.
Lyric poem
Lyric poem
- Neutral Tones is a lyric poem (expresses personal feelings or emotions) following the bitter feelings around a relationship ending.
Indenting
Indenting
- The indented final line of each stanza slows the pace of the poem.
1When We Two Parted - Lord Byron (1788-1824)
2Love’s Philosophy - Percy Bysshe Shelley
3Porphyria’s Lover - Robert Browning (1812-1889)
4Sonnet 29 - Elizabeth Barrett Browning (1806-1861)
4.1Sonnet 29 – ‘I think of thee!’ Analysis
5Neutral Tones - Thomas Hardy (1840-1928)
6Letters from Yorkshire - Maura Dooley (Born 1957)
6.1Letters from Yorkshire Analysis
7The Farmer’s Bride - Charlotte Mew (1869-1928)
8Walking Away - Cecil Day Lewis (1904-1972)
8.1Walking Away Analysis
9Eden Rock - Charles Causley (1917-2003)
10Follower - Seamus Heaney (1939-2013)
10.1Follower Analysis
11‘Mother, Any Distance’ - Simon Armitage (Born1963
11.1'Mother, Any Distance' Analysis
12Before You Were Mine - Carol Ann Duffy (Born 1955)
12.1Before You Were Mine Analysis
13Winter Swans - Owen Sheers (Born 1974)
14Singh Song! - Daljit Nagra (Born 1966)
14.1Singh Song! Analysis
15Climbing My Grandfather - Andrew Waterhouse
15.1Climbing My Grandfather Analysis
16Grade 9 - Comparisons
16.1Grade 9 - Comparisons
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1When We Two Parted - Lord Byron (1788-1824)
2Love’s Philosophy - Percy Bysshe Shelley
3Porphyria’s Lover - Robert Browning (1812-1889)
4Sonnet 29 - Elizabeth Barrett Browning (1806-1861)
4.1Sonnet 29 – ‘I think of thee!’ Analysis
5Neutral Tones - Thomas Hardy (1840-1928)
6Letters from Yorkshire - Maura Dooley (Born 1957)
6.1Letters from Yorkshire Analysis
7The Farmer’s Bride - Charlotte Mew (1869-1928)
8Walking Away - Cecil Day Lewis (1904-1972)
8.1Walking Away Analysis
9Eden Rock - Charles Causley (1917-2003)
10Follower - Seamus Heaney (1939-2013)
10.1Follower Analysis
11‘Mother, Any Distance’ - Simon Armitage (Born1963
11.1'Mother, Any Distance' Analysis
12Before You Were Mine - Carol Ann Duffy (Born 1955)
12.1Before You Were Mine Analysis
13Winter Swans - Owen Sheers (Born 1974)
14Singh Song! - Daljit Nagra (Born 1966)
14.1Singh Song! Analysis
15Climbing My Grandfather - Andrew Waterhouse
15.1Climbing My Grandfather Analysis
16Grade 9 - Comparisons
16.1Grade 9 - Comparisons
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