Neutral Tones

• "we stood by a pond that winter day"
• "Your eyes on me as eyes that rove"
• "The smile on your face was the deadest thing"
• "a grin of bitterness swept thereby"
• "a pond edged with greyish leaves"
• published in 1867 by Thomas Hardy
• Who is the author of the poem "Neutral Tones"?

  Thomas Hardy
• What is the main theme of the poem "Neutral Tones"?

  The end of a relationship
• In what year was "Neutral Tones" written?

  1867
• What literary movement influenced Thomas Hardy's poetry?

  Romanticism
• What was Thomas Hardy's profession besides being a poet?

  Novelist
• How did Hardy feel about living in the city?

  He hated it and preferred the countryside
• What was Hardy's attitude towards religion?

  He rejected it due to scientific growth
• What did Hardy believe about marriage based on his experiences?

  People should pursue what they want
• Who is believed to be the inspiration for "Neutral Tones"?

  Eliza Nicholls
• What does the narrator describe in the first line of the poem?

  Standing by a pond on a winter day
• What does the phrase "the sun was white" suggest in the poem?

  It indicates a lack of warmth and life
• What do the gray leaves symbolize in the poem?

  Decay and the end of a relationship
• How does the narrator perceive the woman's gaze?

  As bored and uninterested
• What does the "smile on your mouth" represent?

  A lifeless and bitter expression
• What does the final stanza of the poem convey about the narrator's feelings?

  He is haunted by the past relationship
• What are the key characteristics of Romantic poetry as seen in "Neutral Tones"?

  • Dislike of urban life
  • Embrace of the natural world
  • Love of the supernatural
  • Use of ordinary language
• How does Hardy's portrayal of nature differ from traditional Romantic views?

  Nature is indifferent and uncaring
• What does the title "Neutral Tones" imply about the poem's themes?

  Indifference in love and nature
• How does the color gray function symbolically in the poem?

  It represents indifference and lack of emotion
• What are the two interpretations of the title "Neutral Tones"?

  1. Describes the lovers' indifference to each other
  2. Reflects nature's uninterested observation of events
• What does the term "pathetic fallacy" refer to in the context of the poem?

  Nature reflecting the character's emotions
• How does the poem's setting change from the first to the last stanza?

  The description becomes more negative over time
• What does the winter setting symbolize in the poem?

  The end of a relationship
• How does the color of the sun change in the poem, and what does it signify?

  From white to cursed, indicating despair
• What is the overall mood of "Neutral Tones"?

  • Somber and reflective
  • Indifferent and detached
  • Filled with regret and sorrow
• What does the poem's setting symbolize in relation to the relationship's status?

  The winter setting symbolizes the relationship's end
• What season does the poem take place in?

  Winter
• How is the sun described in the poem?

  As being white instead of yellow
• What does the color scheme in the poem reflect?

  The lack of life in the relationship
• What emotions does the speaker express in the poem?

  The speaker feels depressed about the breakup
• What deeper meaning might the poem convey about the speaker's feelings?

  The speaker is stuck in the past
• How does the structure of the poem contribute to its meaning?

  It is cyclical, reflecting the speaker's stagnation
• What does the change in determiners from 'a' to 'the' signify?

  The speaker's fixation on a specific pond
• How does the rhyme scheme of the poem enhance its themes?

  It reinforces the cyclical nature of the speaker's thoughts