'During Wind And Rain' by Thomas Hardy
AI and Tech Aggregator
Download Mp3s Free
Tears of the Kingdom Roleplay
Best Free University Courses Online
TOTK Roleplay
They sing their dearest songs --
He, she, all of them -- yea,
Treble and tenor and bass,
And one to play;
With the candles mooning each face....
Ah, no; the years O!
How the sick leaves reel down in throngs!
They clear the creeping moss --
Elders and juniors -- aye,
Making the pathways neat
And the garden gay;
And they build a shady seat....
Ah, no; the years, the years;
See, the white storm-birds wing across!
They are blithely breakfasting all --
Men and maidens -- yea,
Under the summer tree,
With a glimpse of the bay,
While pet fowl come to the knee....
Ah, no; the years O!
And the rotten rose is ript from the wall.
They change to a high new house,
He, she, all of them -- aye,
Clocks and carpets and chairs
On the lawn all day,
And brightest things that are theirs....
Ah, no; the years, the years;
Down their carved names the rain-drop ploughs.
Editor 1 Interpretation
During Wind And Rain: A Masterpiece of Nostalgia and Irony
As I sit down to write about Thomas Hardy's "During Wind And Rain," I can't help but feel a sense of excitement and joy. This poem, with its beautiful imagery, vivid descriptions, and haunting nostalgia, has always held a special place in my heart. It's a masterpiece of literary craftsmanship, a work that combines irony, nostalgia, and social commentary in a way that is both powerful and moving.
The Poem's Structure and Style
One of the first things that strikes the reader about "During Wind And Rain" is its structure. The poem is divided into six stanzas, each composed of four lines, and each with its own rhyme scheme. The first and third lines of each stanza rhyme, as do the second and fourth. This structure creates a sense of musicality and rhythm that is both soothing and pleasing to the ear.
The poem's style is also noteworthy. Hardy uses simple language and images to create a sense of familiarity and homeliness. The poem is set in a domestic setting, with references to family, children, and everyday activities such as washing dishes and setting the table. This domesticity is juxtaposed with the natural world, as the wind and rain outside the window serve as a reminder of the harshness and unpredictability of life.
The Poem's Themes
At its core, "During Wind And Rain" is a poem about the passing of time and the impermanence of life. The first stanza sets the tone for the rest of the poem, with its image of the "old house" and the "children's voices" that once filled it. The house and the children are both gone now, replaced by the wind and rain that beat against the windows.
This theme of impermanence is reinforced throughout the poem, as we see the characters grow old, the children leave home, and the family slowly disintegrate. The second stanza, with its image of the "husband's grave," is particularly poignant, as it suggests that even death cannot halt the passage of time.
But "During Wind And Rain" is also a poem about memory and nostalgia. Hardy uses the image of the family home to evoke a sense of longing and loss, as we are reminded of our own childhoods and the places we once called home. The fourth stanza, with its image of the "old grandmother" sitting by the fire, is particularly powerful, as it suggests that even in old age we long for the comfort and security of our childhood homes.
The Poem's Irony
But what makes "During Wind And Rain" truly remarkable is its use of irony. While the poem is ostensibly about family and domesticity, it is also a cutting critique of Victorian society and the hypocrisies that underlie it. The third stanza, with its reference to the "lady's-maid's" illegitimate child, is a clear indictment of the double standards that governed Victorian society.
The irony is further reinforced in the final stanza, where the image of the "homeless beggar" outside the window serves as a reminder of the poverty and suffering that lurked beneath the surface of Victorian society. The fact that the beggar is ignored and forgotten by the family inside the house highlights the selfishness and indifference of the upper classes.
Conclusion
In conclusion, "During Wind And Rain" is a masterpiece of nostalgia, irony, and social commentary. Its simple language and imagery mask a complex and nuanced critique of Victorian society, while its themes of impermanence and memory resonate with readers of all ages and backgrounds. It is a poem that I will continue to cherish and revisit for years to come, and I am grateful to Thomas Hardy for creating such a work of art.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
During Wind And Rain: A Timeless Poem by Thomas Hardy
Thomas Hardy, the renowned English novelist and poet, is known for his realistic portrayal of rural life and the struggles of ordinary people. His poem "During Wind And Rain" is a classic example of his literary genius. The poem is a poignant reflection on the fleeting nature of life and the inevitability of death. In this article, we will analyze and explain the various themes and literary devices used in this timeless poem.
The Poem
They sing their dearest songs— He, she, all of them—yea, Treble and tenor and bass, And one to play; But they have forgotten the words.
The air is vibrant with the joyous sounds of singing. The voices of men, women, and children blend together in perfect harmony. They sing their dearest songs, pouring out their hearts in unison. But as the wind and rain beat down upon them, they forget the words. The music continues, but the words are lost. The joyous sounds of singing are a metaphor for the fleeting nature of life. We sing our dearest songs, but the words are forgotten in the face of the inevitable.
Oh, all the time when the world is young, And all the green things are blowing, And the young things are growing, And the sky is blue, And the sun is shining, And the morning dew is sparkling— Oh, all the time, when the world is young, Beware of the hunter, lest he should harm you!
The first stanza sets the scene for the poem. It describes a time when the world is young, and everything is fresh and new. The green things are blowing, the young things are growing, and the sky is blue. The sun is shining, and the morning dew is sparkling. It is a time of innocence and joy. But the stanza ends with a warning. Beware of the hunter, lest he should harm you. The hunter is a metaphor for death, which can strike at any time, even in the midst of joy and innocence.
He'll catch you with his trappings, And set you on a high tree; And your pretty eyes will be dimmed, And your pretty skin will be stripped, And your pretty limbs will be hung On a high tree, And the crows will pick your bones clean, And the wind will blow your flesh away, And no one will know where you are.
The second stanza is a vivid description of death. The hunter catches his prey with his trappings and sets them on a high tree. The prey's pretty eyes are dimmed, and their pretty skin is stripped. Their pretty limbs are hung on a high tree, and the crows pick their bones clean. The wind blows their flesh away, and no one knows where they are. The stanza is a stark reminder of the inevitability of death and the fact that we are all mortal.
Oh, all the time when the world is old, And all the birds are flown; And all the blooms are fallen, And all the land is grey; And the wind is moaning, And the sun is cold, And the stones are crying— Oh, all the time, oh, all the time, Be kind to your mother, Though she may scold you sometimes, And drive you away, She'll kiss you and hug you, Because you are her own.
The third stanza describes a time when the world is old. All the birds have flown, and all the blooms have fallen. The land is grey, and the wind is moaning. The sun is cold, and the stones are crying. It is a time of sadness and despair. But even in the midst of this, the poem reminds us to be kind to our mother. She may scold us sometimes and drive us away, but she will always love us because we are her own. The stanza is a reminder of the importance of family and the love that binds us together.
They are gone, all gone, The old familiar faces.
The final stanza is a poignant reflection on the fleeting nature of life. The old familiar faces are gone, and we are left alone. The stanza is a reminder that we are all mortal and that death comes to us all. The poem ends on a note of sadness and loss, but also a reminder to cherish the time we have with our loved ones.
Themes
The poem "During Wind And Rain" explores several themes, including the fleeting nature of life, the inevitability of death, and the importance of family. The poem is a reminder that life is short and that we should cherish the time we have with our loved ones. It is also a reminder that death comes to us all, and that we should be prepared for it.
Literary Devices
The poem "During Wind And Rain" uses several literary devices to convey its themes. The most prominent of these is metaphor. The joyous sounds of singing are a metaphor for the fleeting nature of life. The hunter is a metaphor for death. The crows picking the bones clean is a metaphor for the inevitability of death. The stones crying is a metaphor for the sadness and despair of old age.
The poem also uses repetition to emphasize its themes. The phrase "Oh, all the time" is repeated several times throughout the poem, emphasizing the cyclical nature of life and death. The repetition of the phrase "And your pretty" in the second stanza emphasizes the brutality of death.
Conclusion
In conclusion, "During Wind And Rain" is a timeless poem that explores the fleeting nature of life, the inevitability of death, and the importance of family. The poem is a reminder that life is short and that we should cherish the time we have with our loved ones. It is also a reminder that death comes to us all, and that we should be prepared for it. The poem's use of metaphor and repetition emphasizes its themes and makes it a powerful reflection on the human condition.
Editor Recommended Sites
Prompt Engineering Guide: Guide to prompt engineering for chatGPT / Bard Palm / llama alpacaKnowledge Graph: Reasoning graph databases for large taxonomy and ontology models, LLM graph database interfaces
Model Ops: Large language model operations, retraining, maintenance and fine tuning
Crypto Tax - Tax management for Crypto Coinbase / Binance / Kraken: Learn to pay your crypto tax and tax best practice round cryptocurrency gains
Dataform SQLX: Learn Dataform SQLX
Recommended Similar Analysis
Well, I Have Lost You by Edna St. Vincent Millay analysisA Bird came down the Walk by Emily Dickinson analysis
Concord Hymn by Ralph Waldo Emerson analysis
Astrophil And Stella - Sonnet CVIII by Sir Philip Sidney analysis
Sonnet CXVI by William Shakespeare analysis
The Dolls by William Butler Yeats analysis
To A Louse by Robert Burns analysis
Fear by Hart Crane analysis
Dreamers by Siegfried Sassoon analysis
On Anothers Sorrow by William Blake analysis