Themes

Incompatibility of the Lovers

The poem Neutral Tones is about the end of a relationship. Here are some techniques that Hardy uses to show the distance between and incompatibility of the lovers:

Juxtaposition

The narrator uses juxtaposition (putting things close together for effect) in phrases like 'alive enough to have strength to die' to create a sense of the incompatibility of the lovers.
The sun is 'white', implying it is cold.
His lover’s smile is a dead 'thing' and an 'ominous' sign.
- This shows the disintegration of the relationship.

Pronouns

The collective pronoun 'we' is only used in the beginning of the poem to show how the lovers have come apart.
'Us' and 'our' are also used but only to refer their love fading away even more.

Lifelessness of Relationship

Neutral Tones is about the end of a relationship. Hardy uses a variety of methods to show the lack of vitality (life) in the relationship.

Pathetic fallacy

The poem uses pathetic fallacy to reflect the bleak lifelessness of the relationship.
In particular, setting the poem in winter reflects the freezing of the former lovers' feelings and allows Hardy to use a dull colour scheme.

Repetition

Hardy repeats the colour ‘gray’ throughout, to emphasise the lack of vitality in the landscape and their relationship.

Bitterness of the Narrator

Hardy's narrator is reflecting on the end of a relationship. Hardy creates a bitter sneering tone to show his dislike of his former lover.

Alliteration

Alliteration in ‘wrings with wrong’ helps to create a bitter, sneering tone and reflects the narrator's anger and frustration.

Assonance

Assonance (repetition of similar sounds) in the line ‘keen lessons that love deceives’ adds to the bitter tone of the narrator.

1When We Two Parted - Lord Byron (1788-1824)

1.1When We Two Parted Analysis

1.1.1Summary & Structure

1.1.2Themes: Death & Loss

1.1.3Themes: Time & Anger

1.1.4Key Quotes & Comparisons

1.1.5End of Topic Test - When We Two Parted

2Love’s Philosophy - Percy Bysshe Shelley

2.1Love's Philosophy Analysis

2.1.1Summary & Structure

2.1.2Themes

2.1.3Key Quotes & Comparisons

2.1.4End of Topic Test - Love's Philosophy

2.1.5Exam-Style Questions - Love's Philosophy

3Porphyria’s Lover - Robert Browning (1812-1889)

3.1Porphyria’s Lover Analysis

3.1.1Summary & Structure

3.1.2Themes: Porphyria & Violence

3.1.3Themes: Sin & Pathetic Fallacy

3.1.4Key Quotes & Comparisons

3.1.5End of Topic Test - Porphyria's Lover

4Sonnet 29 - Elizabeth Barrett Browning (1806-1861)

4.1Sonnet 29 – ‘I think of thee!’ Analysis

4.1.1Summary & Structure

4.1.2Themes

4.1.3Key Quotes & Comparisons

5Neutral Tones - Thomas Hardy (1840-1928)

5.1Neutral Tones Analysis

5.1.1Summary & Structure

5.1.2Themes

5.1.3Key Quotes & Comparisons

5.1.4End of Topic Test - Sonnet 29 & Neutral Tones

6Letters from Yorkshire - Maura Dooley (Born 1957)

6.1Letters from Yorkshire Analysis

6.1.1Summary & Structure

6.1.2Themes

6.1.3Key Quotes & Comparisons

7The Farmer’s Bride - Charlotte Mew (1869-1928)

7.1The Farmer's Bride Analaysis

7.1.1Summary, Structure & Form

7.1.2Themes

7.1.3Key Quotes & Comparisons

7.1.4End of Topic Test - Dooley & Mew

7.1.5Exam-Style Questions - The Farmer's Bride

8Walking Away - Cecil Day Lewis (1904-1972)

8.1Walking Away Analysis

8.1.1Summary, Structure & Form

8.1.2Themes

8.1.3Key Quotes & Comparisons

9Eden Rock - Charles Causley (1917-2003)

9.1Eden Rock Analysis

9.1.1Summary, Structure & Form

9.1.2Themes

9.1.3Key Quotes & Comparisons

9.1.4End of Topic Test - Walking Away & Eden Rock

10Follower - Seamus Heaney (1939-2013)

10.1Follower Analysis

10.1.1Summary, Structure & Form

10.1.2Themes

10.1.3Quotes and Comparisons

11‘Mother, Any Distance’ - Simon Armitage (Born1963

11.1'Mother, Any Distance' Analysis

11.1.1Summary, Structure & Form

11.1.2Themes

11.1.3Key Quotes & Comparisons

11.1.4End of Topic Test - Follower& Mother, Any Distance

12Before You Were Mine - Carol Ann Duffy (Born 1955)

12.1Before You Were Mine Analysis

12.1.1Summary, Structure & Form

12.1.2Themes

12.1.3Key Quotes & Comparisons

13Winter Swans - Owen Sheers (Born 1974)

13.1Winter Swans Analysis

13.1.1Summary, Structure & Form

13.1.2Themes

13.1.3Key Quotes & Comparisons

13.1.4End of Topic Test - Duffy & Sheers

14Singh Song! - Daljit Nagra (Born 1966)

14.1Singh Song! Analysis

14.1.1Summary, Structure & Form

14.1.2Themes

14.1.3Key Quotes & Comparisons

15Climbing My Grandfather - Andrew Waterhouse

15.1Climbing My Grandfather Analysis

15.1.1Summary, Structure & Form

15.1.2Themes

15.1.3Key Quotes & Comparisons

15.1.4End of Topic Test - Nagra & Waterhouse

16Grade 9 - Comparisons

16.1Grade 9 - Comparisons

16.1.1Grade 9 - Comparisons

Jump to other topics