Neutral Tones Flashcards
What is ‘Neutral Tones’ about?
Two lovers coming to the end of their relationship
What does the title ‘Neutral Tones’ suggest about the poem?
A world drained of colour.
A relationship that has stagnated and frozen.
Stillness and lack of vitality as reflected by the weather.
How is structure used in ‘Neutral Tones’?
The indented final line of each stanza slows the pace of the poem.
‘Neutral Tones’ is a lyric poem (expresses personal feelings or emotions).
Circular structure.
How is the circular structure used in ‘Neutral Tones’?
First line is echoed in the last line.
Created a sense of frustration.
The narrator is such in his feelings of sadness and awareness that their relationship is over.
What does Hardy use throughout ‘Neutral Tones’ to signify the end of their relationship?
Ominous imagery
Where is ‘Neutral Tones’ set?
Next to a pond in winter
How has Hardy used pronouns to show the distance between lovers?
‘We’ is only used in the beginning.
‘Us’ and ‘our’ are used to refer to their love fading.
Why does Hardy use juxtaposition in ‘Neutral Tones’? Examples?
Shows the incompatibility of the lovers.
“Alive enough to have strength to die”
“The smile on your mouth was the deadest thing”
What colour does Hardy repeat throughout ‘Neutral Tones’ and why?
“grey”
Emphasises the lack of vitality in the landscape and their relationship
Why does Hardy use pathetic fallacy in ‘Neutral Tones’? Example?
Setting the poem in winter reflects the freezing of the former lovers’ feelings.
“the sun was white” (no warmth)
Give an example of alliteration used in ‘Neutral Tones’.
“wrings with wrong”
Created a bitter tone that reflects the narrator anger.
Play on words - ring - echo
How could you compare ‘Neutral Tones’ to ‘Winter Swans’?
Compare the way in which an estranged couple is presented.
The use of winter imagery and weather.
Contrast the lack of reunion or resolution in Neutral Tones with the reunion in Winter Swans.
How could you compare ‘Neutral Tones’ to ‘When We Two Parted’?
The bitter tones of the two poems.
Their use of wintry weather to show the end of a relationship.
Use of death imagery to describe his lover.
How could you compare ‘Neutral Tones’ to ‘Love’s Philosophy’?
Natural imagery.
Contrast between the depiction of the beginning and end of a relationship.
Hardy explores a relationship in its final stages in Neutral Tones, whilst Love’s Philosophy is filled with novelty and excitement.
Where has Hardy used assonance in ‘Neutral Tones’?
“keen lessons that love deceives”
She has taught him that he can’t trust people.
How has Hardy used eye rhyme in ‘Neutral Tones’?
“rove” and “love”
From the outside they look like they love each other but there is actually no love.
Jarring.
How is rhyme and rhythm used in ‘Neutral Tones’?
ABBA rhyme scheme + four regular quatrains
Shows consistency in his feelings. He hasn’t moved on.
How does Hardy foreshadow the end of their relationship?
“Like an ominous bird a-wing…”
Warning of death, the end of their relationship.
It stays with him as a memory.
… - passing of time - leads to the end of their relationship.
How does the sun being white signify the end of their relationship?
Like ash from an extinguished fire.
Metaphor for their love - used to have warmth and energy but doesn’t anymore.
