Neutral tones

• What is the title of the poem discussed?

  Neutral Tones
• What is the main theme of "Neutral Tones"?

  Breakups and the pain of lost love
• Who is the author of "Neutral Tones"?

  Thomas Hardy
• Where does the speaker remember being dumped?

  By a pond on a winter's day
• What does the poem explore about the speaker's feelings?

  Heartbreak and lingering memories
• What literary device is used in the phrase "the sun was white"?

  Imagery
• What does the winter setting symbolize in the poem?

  Coldness and the end of the relationship
• How does the pond contribute to the poem's meaning?

  It symbolizes stillness and lack of passion
• What does the phrase "children of God" imply about the sun?

  The sun is personified as shocked
• What does the description of the leaves suggest about the speaker's feelings?

  He feels devoid of hope and vitality
• What does the term "pathetic fallacy" refer to in the poem?

  Nature reflecting the speaker's emotions
• How does the alliteration in "leaves lay" affect the poem's tone?

  It creates a melodic, soft sound
• What does the repetition of "and" signify in the poem?

  It emphasizes the speaker's vivid memories
• What does the phrase "the deadest thing" imply about the smile?

  It indicates a lack of genuine happiness
• What does the simile "like an ominous bird a wing" suggest?

  Her desire for freedom is negative
• How does the poem's cyclical structure affect its meaning?

  It shows the speaker's trapped emotional state
• What does the phrase "Keen lessons that love deceives" imply?

  The speaker feels cynical about love
• What is the significance of the poet's background?

  It influences the themes in his poetry
• How did Romantic Poets influence Hardy's work?

  They emphasized the power of nature
• What does the phrase "the god cursed sun" suggest about the speaker's feelings?

  His emotional state has worsened
• What are the three key quotations to analyze in "Neutral Tones"?

  1. "We stood by a pond that winter day"
  2. "The smile on your mouth was the deadest thing"
  3. "Since then Keen lessons that love deceives"
• What are the main structural elements of "Neutral Tones"?

  • Four regular quatrains
  • Cyclical structure
  • Use of enjambment
• What is the poet's message in "Neutral Tones"?

  • Reflection on heartbreak
  • The impact of lost love
  • Cynicism towards future relationships