A Wife in London, Thomas Hardy Flashcards
(8 cards)
“A Wife in London”
Indefinite article ‘A’ suggests that there are many more people in a similar situation.
The poem indicates that most important aspect of her identity is a marital status.
“The Tragedy”
Title creates a sense of foreboding and inevitability.
“She sits in the tawny vapor”
An eerie atmosphere is created by the yellow fog.
“He - has fallen - in the far south land…”
“He - has fallen” is a euphemism to shield the widow from the harsh truth but the dashes represent her grief and inability to process the news of her husband’s death.
“The Irony”
“The Irony” becomes not just a description of the letter, but a comment on war itself — that it promises honour and love, but often delivers only loss and heartbreak.
“fog hangs thicker”
Pathetic fallacy shows her grief is settling in.
Final words - “new love that they would learn”
Shows the irony that he was looking forward to
their new life together. It heightens the tragedy and heartbreak of his death because they will never be together and rekindle their relationship.
Structure
The poem is divided into two events covering two days: ‘The Tragedy’ and ‘The Irony’.
There is a clear rhyme scheme in each verse, creating a sense of inevitability to these tragic events.
Hardy uses the present tense to create a sense that this is a story unfolding in front of us, making it more dramatic and emotional.
