'Ah, Are You Digging On My Grave?' by Thomas Hardy

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Satires of Circumstance1914"Ah, are you digging on my grave,My loved one? -- planting rue?"-- "No: yesterday he went to wedOne of the brightest wealth has bred.'It cannot hurt her now,' he said,'That I should not be true.'""Then who is digging on my grave,My nearest dearest kin?"-- "Ah, no: they sit and think, 'What use!What good will planting flowers produce?No tendance of her mound can looseHer spirit from Death's gin.'""But someone digs upon my grave?My enemy? -- prodding sly?"-- "Nay: when she heard you had passed the GateThat shuts on all flesh soon or late,She thought you no more worth her hate,And cares not where you lie."Then, who is digging on my grave?Say -- since I have not guessed!"-- "O it is I, my mistress dear,Your little dog , who still lives near,And much I hope my movements hereHave not disturbed your rest?""Ah yes! You dig upon my grave...Why flashed it not to meThat one true heart was left behind!What feeling do we ever findTo equal among human kindA dog's fidelity!""Mistress, I dug upon your graveTo bury a bone, in caseI should be hungry near this spotWhen passing on my daily trot.I am sorry, but I quite forgotIt was your resting place."

Editor 1 Interpretation

Ah, Are You Digging On My Grave?

Ah, Are You Digging On My Grave? is a classic poem written by Thomas Hardy in 1914, first published in his collection of poems, Satires of Circumstance. The poem has a melancholic tone and is written in five stanzas, each with four lines.

Synopsis

The poem is about a dead woman who is speaking from beyond the grave. The woman is aware that someone is digging on her grave, and she wonders who it could be. She initially thinks that it could be her lover, who she hopes is coming to visit her. However, as the poem progresses, the woman realizes that it is her dog who is digging on her grave. The woman then laments the fact that her dog has forgotten her and has moved on to love someone else.

Interpretation

The poem has a deep meaning that is open to interpretation. At its core, the poem is a reflection on life and death, and how people are remembered after they die. The poem also explores themes of love, loss, and the passage of time.

One interpretation of the poem is that it is a commentary on the fleeting nature of love. The woman in the poem is no longer alive, and even her dog has moved on to love someone else. This could be seen as a reflection on how love fades with time, and how people eventually forget those that they once loved.

Another interpretation of the poem is that it is a reflection on the importance of memory. The woman in the poem is only remembered by her dog, and even that memory is fading. This could be seen as a commentary on how important it is to be remembered after we die, and how our memories can shape the way that we are remembered.

The poem can also be seen as a reflection on the inevitability of death. The woman in the poem is already dead, and there is nothing that she can do to change that fact. This could be seen as a commentary on the fact that death is a part of life, and that we must all face it eventually.

Literary Devices

The poem makes use of several literary devices to convey its meaning. One of the most prominent devices used in the poem is personification. The woman in the poem is speaking from beyond the grave, and is personified as if she is still alive. This helps to give the poem a sense of melancholy and sadness, and helps to convey the theme of loss.

The poem also makes use of repetition to emphasize certain points. The phrase "Ah, are you digging on my grave?" is repeated several times throughout the poem, and this repetition helps to emphasize the fact that someone is digging on the woman's grave.

The poem also makes use of symbolism to convey its meaning. The dog in the poem is a symbol of loyalty and love, and the fact that the dog has moved on to love someone else is a symbol of the fleeting nature of love.

Analysis

The poem can be analyzed in several ways. One way to analyze the poem is to look at the structure of the poem. The poem is written in five stanzas, each with four lines. The first and third lines of each stanza are written in tetrameter, while the second and fourth lines are written in trimeter. This gives the poem a sense of rhythm and musicality, and helps to convey the poem's melancholic tone.

Another way to analyze the poem is to look at the use of imagery. The poem contains several images that help to convey the poem's meaning. For example, the image of the dog digging on the woman's grave is a powerful image that helps to convey the theme of the fleeting nature of love. The image of the woman speaking from beyond the grave is also a powerful image that helps to convey the theme of loss.

The poem can also be analyzed in terms of its tone. The poem has a melancholic tone that conveys a sense of sadness and loss. This tone is established through the use of personification and imagery, as well as through the use of repetition and symbolism.

Conclusion

Ah, Are You Digging On My Grave? is a classic poem that explores themes of life and death, love and loss, and the passage of time. The poem makes use of several literary devices, including personification, repetition, and symbolism, to convey its meaning. The poem is structured in a way that gives it a sense of rhythm and musicality, and the use of imagery helps to create powerful images that convey the poem's meaning. Overall, Ah, Are You Digging On My Grave? is a powerful poem that continues to resonate with readers today.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Ah, Are You Digging On My Grave? A classic poem written by Thomas Hardy, is a haunting and thought-provoking piece that leaves readers pondering the true meaning behind the words. In this 2000-word analysis, we will delve deep into the poem's themes, structure, and literary devices to uncover the hidden messages that lie within.

The poem is written in the form of a dialogue between a deceased woman and a passerby who is digging on her grave. The woman's ghostly voice questions the passerby, asking if he is digging on her grave, and if so, why. The passerby responds, explaining that he is digging a grave for his own dog, who had died and was buried nearby. The woman's ghostly voice then laments the fact that her own grave has been forgotten and neglected, and that no one seems to care about her anymore.

The poem's themes revolve around the idea of death, memory, and the fleeting nature of life. The woman's ghostly voice represents the idea of memory and the importance of being remembered after death. She is saddened by the fact that her grave has been forgotten and neglected, and that no one seems to care about her anymore. This theme is further emphasized by the passerby's response, which shows that even the most beloved of pets can be forgotten and neglected over time.

The poem's structure is also significant in conveying its themes. The dialogue between the woman's ghostly voice and the passerby is written in a simple and straightforward manner, with each line consisting of only a few words. This simplicity emphasizes the poem's themes of death and the fleeting nature of life, as well as the idea that even the most profound thoughts and emotions can be expressed in a few simple words.

The poem's literary devices are also significant in conveying its themes. The use of repetition, for example, emphasizes the woman's ghostly voice and the idea of memory. The phrase "Ah, are you digging on my grave?" is repeated several times throughout the poem, each time with a slightly different inflection, emphasizing the woman's growing sense of despair and sadness. The use of personification, such as the woman's ghostly voice and the passerby's dog, also adds to the poem's haunting and otherworldly atmosphere.

The poem's use of irony is also significant in conveying its themes. The fact that the passerby is digging a grave for his own dog, who had died and was buried nearby, emphasizes the fleeting nature of life and the idea that even the most beloved of pets can be forgotten and neglected over time. This irony is further emphasized by the woman's ghostly voice, who laments the fact that her own grave has been forgotten and neglected, despite the fact that she was once a living, breathing human being.

In conclusion, Ah, Are You Digging On My Grave? is a haunting and thought-provoking poem that explores the themes of death, memory, and the fleeting nature of life. The poem's structure, literary devices, and use of irony all work together to convey these themes in a powerful and memorable way. As readers, we are left pondering the true meaning behind the words, and the importance of being remembered after death.

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