The+Subalterns+Presentation

[|The Subalterns Reading]


 * “The Subalterns” by Thomas Hardy (pg. 593) **

"Poor wanderer," said the leaden sky, "I fain would lighten thee, But there are laws in force on high Which say it must not be."

"I would not freeze thee, shorn one," cried The North, "knew I but how To warm my breath, to slack my stride; But I am ruled as thou.

"To-morrow I attack thee, wight," Said Sickness. "Yet I swear I bear thy little ark no spite, But am bid enter there."

"Come hither, Son," I heard Death say; "I did not will a grave Should end thy pilgrimage to-day, <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">But I, too, am a slave!"

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">We smiled upon each other then, <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">And life to me had less <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Of that fell look it wore ere when <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">They owned their passiveness


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Thomas Hardy (2 June 1840 – 11 January 1928): **

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Thomas Hardy was an English novelist and poet. He was a Victorian realist and he was influenced both in his novels and poetry by Romanticism especially by William Wadsworth and Charles Dickens. Hardy was also highly critical of much in Victorian society, though he focused more on a declining rural society.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Growing up, he was always conscious of class divisions and his social inferiority. However, he was interested in social reform.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Hardy observed the world and the irony and struggles of life and a curious mind led him to question the traditional Christian view of God. Hardy frequently conceived of and wrote about supernatural forces that control the universe, more through indifference than any firm will. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Most of Hardy's poems deal with themes of disappointment in love and life and mankind's long struggle against indifference to human suffering and display his love of the natural world.


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">TIME: **

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">**T**heme- <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> - The obstacles in life are not controlled by themselves. They are governed by the Ultimate Law or forces of nature.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">**I**magery- <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> - Figurative Language: Personification

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">**M**eter- <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> - ABAB Rhyme Scheme <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> - The fact that most of the poem is dialogue makes the event seem more personal and familiar. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> - Each stanza in this poem is a compound/ complex sentence structure which can reflect the complexities of life and the obstacles and hardships that everyone must face at some point in their life.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">**E**motion- <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> - A little depressing, but overall, accepting and understanding. It conveys an almost comforting mood.


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Work Cited: **

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Poetry Foundation. General Inquiries, 2013. Web. 5 Mar. 2013.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; line-height: 1.5;">Poets. The Academy of American Poets, 1997. Web. 5 Mar. 2013.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; line-height: 1.5;">Day Poems. N.p., 2001. Web. 5 Mar. 2013.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; line-height: 1.5;">Poetry Connection. Poetry Connection, 2012. Web. 5 Mar. 2013.