A Wife in London by Thomas Hardy How
“A Wife in London” by Thomas Hardy How does this picture make you feel? Why?
A 03: Context (The Boer War) “A Wife in London” was written in 1899; the same year as the second Boer War: There were two Boer wars, one in 1880 -1881 and the second in 1899 -1902. Both of these were between the British and the settlers of Dutch origin (called Boere, Afrikaners or Voortrekkers) in South Africa that put an end to the two independent republics that the settlers had founded. The conflict was over the huge gold reserves in The Transvaal. The British eventually had over 400, 000 men in South Africa. At their peak, the Boers had 52, 000 using boys as young as 9. In addition, the Boers were mostly untrained farmers, fighting what was perhaps the greatest power in the world. So the match was uneven from the start. The war eventually ended in May 1902 when the last of the Boers surrendered. 22, 000 British troops and over 25, 000 Boer civilians had died in the conflict. • Thomas Hardy was firmly against the Boer war and wrote several anti-war poems. A 03: Show understanding of the context in which texts were written.
A 03: Context (Setting) This poem is set in the 19 th Century. At this time, London would be unrecognisable to modern, 21 st Century people. Can you imagine how it felt to be surrounded by fog in Victorian London? “A London fog is brown, reddish-yellow, or greenish, darkens more than a white fog, has a smoky, or sulphurous smell, is often somewhat dryer than a country fog, and produces, when thick, a choking sensation. Instead of diminishing while the sun rises higher, it often increases in density, and some of the most lowering London fogs occur about midday or late in the afternoon. Sometimes the brown masses rise and interpose a thick curtain at a considerable elevation between earth and sky. A white cloth spread out on the ground rapidly turns dirty, and particles of soot attach themselves to every exposed object. ” R Russell, London Fogs (London: 1880) Think about: • What the fog is compared to. • The words the writer uses to describe the fog. A 03: Show understanding of the context in which texts were written.
I – The Tragedy She sits in the tawny vapour That the Thames-side lanes have uprolled, Behind whose webby fold-on-fold Like a waning taper The street-lamp glimmers cold. A messenger's knock cracks smartly, Flashed news in her hand Of meaning it dazes to understand Though shaped so shortly: He—he has fallen—in the far South Land… Tawny – of an orangebrown or yellowish-brown colour. Vapour – a substance suspended in the air, for example smoke, mist or fog. Waning – decrease/diminish/dwindl e. Taper – a slender candle.
II – The Irony 'Tis the morrow; the fog hangs thicker, The postman nears and goes: A letter is brought whose lines disclose By the firelight flicker His hand, whom the worm now knows: Fresh—firm—penned in highest feather — Page-full of his hoped return, And of home-planned jaunts of brake and burn In the summer weather, And of new love that they would learn. Write one sentence to summarise what the poem is about. Morrow – the following day. Penned – written. Jaunts – a short excursion or journey made for pleasure.
Agree or disagree? You must have evidence to support your point. 1. After being away for so long, the soldier was worried to return home. 1. The streets of London are cold and foggy. 1. The wife struggles to comprehend the news brought by the messenger. A 01 : Develop an informed personal response using textual references (quotations) to support interpretations.
Think. Pair. Share. Look at the following quotes. Can you find any deeper meaning? What could the weather symbolise? What technique is being used here? • “She sits in the tawny vapour” • “Behind whose webby fold on fold” • “'Tis the morrow; the fog hangs thicker” A 02 : Analyse the language used by a writer to create meanings and effects using terminology.
A 01 – What is the wife waiting for? Why has Hardy left this woman unnamed? A 02 – Look at the words in bold, how is the weather described and why? What technique is this? I--The Tragedy She sits in the tawny vapour That the City lanes have uprolled, Behind whose webby fold on fold Like a waning taper The street-lamp glimmers cold. A 02 – What technique is used here? Hardy is describing the light from the street lamp. However, could this represent something else? Think about the definition of ‘waning’.
A 02 – What types of sounds are found in the word ‘knock’ and ‘crack’? What effect does this have? A 02 – The narrator uses the word ‘cracks’. What technique is this? What does it make you think of? A messenger's knock cracks smartly, Flashed news in her hand Of meaning it dazes to understand Though shaped so shortly: He--has fallen--in the far South Land. . . A 01 - Look at the words in bold; what do they suggest about the impact of the news on this woman? Is the news positive or negative? A 02 - Why is the word ‘fallen’ important? What is it a euphemism for? A 02 – Look at Hardy’s use of punctuation. Why effect do the ellipsis and dashes have?
A 01 – Why has Hardy used this heading? Are there any instances of irony in the second half of the poem? A 02 – Has Hardy used any symbolism in this poem? Does the fog have any deeper or alternate meanings? II--The Irony 'Tis the morrow; the fog hangs thicker, The postman nears and goes: A letter is brought whose lines disclose By the firelight flicker His hand, whom the worm now knows: A 02 – What technique is used here? What atmosphere does this language choice create? A 01 – What does this line tell us about the soldier?
A 02 – Why has Hardy used the words ‘Fresh’ and ‘firm’? Is there any irony here? A 01 – Look at the phrases in bold. What did the soldier write in his letter? Was it a positive or negative letter? Fresh--firm--penned in highest feather Page-full of his hoped return, And of home-planned jaunts by brake and burn In the summer weather, And of new love that they would learn.
What impact do the headings have? ‘The Tragedy’ refers to the soldier’s death and ‘The Irony’ highlights the lost hope of the soldier’s return. Is there a rhyme scheme? What effect does it have on the reader? The rhyme pattern is ABBAB, so although regular, it does not have a 'sing song' or playful quality to it. It adds to the wife’s uncertain and anxious feelings and allows a sorrowful tone. Don’t forget A 02: Form and Structure! Is there a shift or a change during the poem? • The two parts indicate a shift in time. The first two stanzas tell of the woman receiving information of her husband’s death, the last two stanzas describe the woman receiving a posthumous letter from her deceased husband. • The use of pathetic fallacy in the second part indicates how the wife feels consumed by sorrow and misery after the news of her husband’s death (‘fog hangs thicker’). A 02 : Analyse the form and structure used by a writer to create meanings and effects using terminology.
A 03: Link to context If Thomas Hardy was firmly against the war, why did he write a poem involving the Boer war? Is he trying to convey a particular message? Furthermore, why didn’t Hardy set his poem in the heart of the Boer war: South Africa? What is the significance of gloomy, foggy Victorian London? A 03: Show understanding of the context in which texts were written.
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