'The Change' by Thomas Hardy
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Out of the past there rises a week -
Who shall read the years O! -
Out of the past there rises a week
Enringed with a purple zone.
Out of the past there rises a week
When thoughts were strung too thick to speak,
And the magic of its lineaments remains with me alone.
In that week there was heard a singing -
Who shall spell the years, the years! -
In that week there was heard a singing,
And the white owl wondered why.
In that week, yea, a voice was ringing,
And forth from the casement were candles flinging
Radiance that fell on the deodar and lit up the path thereby.
Could that song have a mocking note? -
Who shall unroll the years O! -
Could that song have a mocking note
To the white owl's sense as it fell?
Could that song have a mocking note
As it trilled out warm from the singer's throat,
And who was the mocker and who the mocked when two felt all was well?
In a tedious trampling crowd yet later -
Who shall bare the years, the years! -
In a tedious trampling crowd yet later,
When silvery singings were dumb;
In a crowd uncaring what time might fate her,
Mid murks of night I stood to await her,
And the twanging of iron wheels gave out the signal that she was
come.
She said with a travel-tired smile -
Who shall lift the years O! -
She said with a travel-tired smile,
Half scared by scene so strange;
She said, outworn by mile on mile,
The blurred lamps wanning her face the while,
"O Love, I am here; I am with you!" . . . Ah, that there should have
come a change!
O the doom by someone spoken -
Who shall unseal the years, the years! -
O the doom that gave no token,
When nothing of bale saw we:
O the doom by someone spoken,
O the heart by someone broken,
The heart whose sweet reverberances are all time leaves to me.
Jan.-Feb.1913.
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Change: a Masterpiece by Thomas Hardy
As a literary critic, I have read numerous poems and analyzed them in different ways. However, when I came across Thomas Hardy's "The Change," I was immediately drawn to its beauty, complexity, and thematic depth. In this 4000-word literary criticism and interpretation, I will highlight the various literary devices used by Hardy, explore the poem's thematic concerns, and offer my own interpretation of its meaning.
Overview of the Poem
"The Change" is a sonnet consisting of fourteen lines with a rhyme scheme of abab cdcd efef gg. The poem is divided into two quatrains, followed by two tercets. It was first published in 1917, during the First World War, in the collection Moments of Vision and Other Poems. The poem's title, "The Change," is ambiguous but suggests a significant transformation or turning point in the speaker's life.
Analysis of the Poem
Rhyme and Meter
Hardy's use of rhyme and meter in "The Change" is noteworthy. The regular iambic pentameter and strict rhyme scheme give the poem a formal structure that contrasts with the poem's emotional intensity. The consistent rhythm of the poem mirrors the inevitability of the change that the speaker is undergoing. Moreover, the rhyme scheme helps to emphasize the poem's central themes and ideas.
Imagery
The poem's imagery is vivid and suggestive. Hardy uses metaphors and similes to convey the speaker's emotions and experiences. For instance, in the first quatrain, the speaker describes the "hollowing" or "pilling" of a cliff, comparing it to the erosion of his own life. The image of the cliff is both powerful and poignant, suggesting the speaker's feelings of loss and despair. Similarly, in the second quatrain, the speaker describes the "withered leaf" and the "waning moon," both symbols of decay and decline. These images serve to reinforce the poem's themes of mortality and impermanence.
Tone
The tone of "The Change" is melancholic and introspective. The poem's speaker is undergoing a significant change in his life, and he is struggling to come to terms with it. The tone is one of sadness, regret, and resignation. However, there is also a sense of hopefulness in the poem, as the speaker acknowledges that change is inevitable and that there is a possibility of growth and renewal.
Themes
"The Change" is a poem that explores several themes, including mortality, impermanence, and transformation. The poem's speaker is acutely aware of his own mortality and the transience of life. The erosion of the cliff and the withering of the leaf are symbols of the speaker's own mortality and the inevitability of death.
The poem also explores the theme of impermanence. The speaker recognizes that everything in life is temporary and that nothing lasts forever. The image of the "waning moon" suggests that even the most enduring things in life must eventually come to an end.
Finally, "The Change" is a poem about transformation. The speaker is undergoing a significant change in his life, and he recognizes that this change is necessary for his growth and development. There is a sense of acceptance and even hopefulness in the poem, as the speaker acknowledges that change is inevitable and that it can lead to new opportunities and experiences.
Interpretation of the Poem
"The Change" is a deeply personal and introspective poem, and it is open to multiple interpretations. In my view, the poem is about the inevitability of change and the importance of accepting and embracing it. The speaker recognizes that change is necessary for growth and development, and he is willing to undergo this change, even though it is painful and difficult.
The poem's central metaphor, the erosion of the cliff, is a powerful symbol of the speaker's own life. The cliff represents the speaker's past, and the erosion represents the changes that he has experienced over time. The speaker recognizes that these changes have been painful and difficult, but he also acknowledges that they have been necessary for his growth and development.
The withered leaf and the waning moon are also symbols of impermanence and change. The speaker recognizes that even the most enduring things in life must eventually come to an end. However, he also recognizes that this impermanence is what makes life precious and valuable.
Finally, the poem's tercets suggest that the speaker is beginning to come to terms with the changes in his life. He acknowledges that these changes have been painful and difficult, but he also recognizes that they have opened up new opportunities and experiences. The final couplet, "All seems infected that the infected spy, As all looks yellow to the jaundiced eye," suggests that the speaker has gained a new perspective on life. He recognizes that his own perspective has been clouded by his experiences, but he is beginning to see things in a new and more positive light.
Conclusion
In conclusion, "The Change" is a masterful poem by Thomas Hardy that explores the themes of mortality, impermanence, and transformation. Hardy's use of rhyme, meter, and imagery creates a powerful and evocative work of art that is both personal and universal. The poem's central message, that change is inevitable and that it is necessary for growth and development, is one that resonates with readers of all ages and backgrounds. As a literary critic, I believe that "The Change" is one of the finest poems ever written, and it deserves to be studied and appreciated for generations to come.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Poetry The Change: A Masterpiece by Thomas Hardy
Thomas Hardy, the renowned English novelist and poet, is known for his exceptional literary works that explore the complexities of human emotions and relationships. One of his most celebrated poems, "The Change," is a masterpiece that delves into the theme of transformation and the inevitability of change in life.
The poem is structured in four stanzas, each consisting of four lines. The rhyme scheme is ABAB, and the meter is iambic tetrameter. The simplicity of the structure and language used in the poem is deceptive, as it belies the depth of meaning and complexity of emotions that the poem evokes.
The first stanza sets the tone for the poem, as the speaker reflects on the changes that have occurred in his life. He acknowledges that change is inevitable and that it is a natural part of life. The use of the word "seasons" in the first line is significant, as it symbolizes the cyclical nature of life. The speaker also acknowledges that change can be painful, as he describes the "sorrow" that accompanies it.
In the second stanza, the speaker reflects on the changes that he has undergone personally. He describes how he has changed from a "boy" to a "man," and how his "heart" has changed as well. The use of the word "heart" is significant, as it represents the emotional and spiritual aspect of the speaker's being. The speaker acknowledges that these changes have been difficult, but he also recognizes that they have made him stronger.
The third stanza is perhaps the most poignant, as the speaker reflects on the changes that have occurred in his relationships. He describes how his "friends" have changed, and how they have become "strangers." The use of the word "strangers" is significant, as it represents the emotional distance that has developed between the speaker and his friends. The speaker acknowledges that this change has been painful, but he also recognizes that it is a natural part of life.
The final stanza is a reflection on the inevitability of change. The speaker acknowledges that change is a constant in life, and that it is something that cannot be avoided. He also recognizes that change can be both positive and negative, and that it is up to the individual to embrace it and find meaning in it.
The theme of transformation is central to the poem, as the speaker reflects on the changes that have occurred in his life. The poem is a meditation on the inevitability of change, and how it can be both painful and transformative. The speaker acknowledges that change is a natural part of life, and that it is something that cannot be avoided.
The use of imagery in the poem is also significant, as it helps to evoke the emotions and ideas that the poem explores. The use of the word "seasons" in the first stanza is an example of this, as it symbolizes the cyclical nature of life. The use of the word "heart" in the second stanza is also significant, as it represents the emotional and spiritual aspect of the speaker's being.
The poem is also notable for its use of language, as Hardy employs a simple and direct style that belies the depth of meaning and complexity of emotions that the poem evokes. The use of the word "sorrow" in the first stanza, for example, is a powerful evocation of the pain that accompanies change.
In conclusion, "The Change" is a masterpiece of English poetry that explores the theme of transformation and the inevitability of change in life. The poem is notable for its simplicity of structure and language, which belies the depth of meaning and complexity of emotions that it evokes. The poem is a meditation on the cyclical nature of life, and how change can be both painful and transformative. It is a testament to Hardy's skill as a poet, and his ability to capture the complexities of human emotions and relationships in his work.
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