Analysing the poem ‘Neutral Tones’ by Thomas Hardy
I can explore how Hardy uses imagery to present a foreboding interaction during the breakdown of the relationship.
Analysing the poem ‘Neutral Tones’ by Thomas Hardy
I can explore how Hardy uses imagery to present a foreboding interaction during the breakdown of the relationship.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Hardy uses colour imagery to create a bleak and barren emotional landscape.
- Hardy uses an oxymoron to convey the hostile and hopeless nature of the relationship.
- Hardy uses personification to suggest how he feels misled by love.
- Hardy uses ominous imagery to show how the relationship was ill-fated.
- Analytical paragraphs should consider a writer’s meaning, use of language and purpose.
Keywords
Ominous - foreboding; suggests something bad will happen.
Hostile - unfriendly or unwelcoming.
Oxymoron - a language technique which combines two opposite ideas.
Colour imagery - vivid descriptions of colours to evoke emotions or ideas.
Common misconception
You need to include a reference to the wider context in every analytical paragraph.
The best analytical responses only include relevant pieces of context and weave it subtly throughout. It is important to include context in your answer but it isn't necessary to include it in every paragraph.
Equipment
You will need access to the poem 'Neutral Tones' by Thomas Hardy. This can be found in the AQA Love and Relationships Poetry Anthology.
Content guidance
- Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).
Lesson video
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