Analysing 'A Wife in London'
I can analyse how Thomas Hardy presents the devastating consequences of war.
Analysing 'A Wife in London'
I can analyse how Thomas Hardy presents the devastating consequences of war.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Hardy uses figurative language in Stanza one to create a foreboding atmosphere and foreshadow the devastating news.
- Hardy uses pathetic fallacy and symbolism across the poem to reflect the wife’s isolation, confusion and loneliness.
- The use of third person perspective creates a detached tone and gives the poem universality.
- The poem’s consistent and therefore predictable rhyme scheme reflects the inevitability of loss in war.
- Hardy uses punctuation to convey the wife’s shock as she struggles to process the devastating news.
Common misconception
Students are quick to identify a poem's rhyme scheme, but they often fail to explain its effect or why it has been used.
In this poem, Hardy arguably uses the same rhyme scheme throughout to reflect the inevitability of death and grief as a result of war. The rhyme scheme becomes a pattern in the same way that death and devastation becomes a pattern in war.
Keywords
Foreshadow - when the writer makes subtle hints about what is to come
Morbid - showing an interest in dark or unpleasant subjects, particularly death
Gruesome - causing repulsion or horror
Monumental - great in importance or size
Senseless - extremely foolish - lacking sense
Content guidance
- Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
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).
Video
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