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Copyright Jeanna Harnisch 2003

The Life and Poetry of Thomas Hardy

Designed for UD junior poets interested inThomas Hardy, or simply for those interested in

poetry

TTHA, 1997. Reproduced by permission


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After viewing this PowerPoint those interestedin Thomas Hardy will be able to:

Know specific details of Hardys biography

Have a broad understanding of how Hardyspoetry results from his life experiences

Be exposed to the recurring themes of Hardys

poetry

Be directed to the most helpful websites dealing

with Thomas Hardys poetry


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Born in 1840, Thomas Hardy became known as aprominent novelist and poet in British and American

literature.He published 8 volumes of poetry, one being publishedposthumously.

Hardys poetry is commonly referred to as pessimisticand was not received well during his lifetime.

One of the most common elements seen throughoutHardys poetry is his use of autobiographical information

within the poems


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Thomas Hardy was born on June 2,1840 in Higher Bockhampton in thiscottage. Throughout his life, he wouldfondly remember this house andfrequently visit it.

Hardy spent his early life singing inthe church choir with his father.

He was a sickly child and was not able to attend school at a young age.

At the age of 22, Hardy moved to London to become an architect.


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Hardy first met his future wife, EmmaGifford, at St. Juliots rectory in1872. They married in 1874 Thischance meeting would shape the next40 years of Hardys life.

Emma Gifford was awoman of high socialstatus. She had avery interestingpersonality and wasalways remember byvisitors to the Hardyhousehold. She died in1912.

Thomas and EmmaHardy resided atMax Gate from1884 onward.


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Hardys first volume of poetry,Wessex Poems, was published in

1898.

Hardy met FlorenceDugdale in 1907.After Emmasdeath in 1912,

Florence and Hardymarried andcontinued to live atMax Gate

Hardy died on January 11,1928.


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Disillusioned

LoveNeutral Tones

In Hardys earlier works, this was a favored theme. Love wasnever reciprocated or happy, but tedious and marked with

infidelity. The poems of 1912-1913 written after Emmas deathare also considered love poems.



Religion/Lossof FaithThe Oxen

Hardy was a pronounced agnosticduring his later life. His poetry ismarked with his disbelief in Godand a belief in some other ruling

force within the universe. Insome ways, Hardy needs the basisof belief to show disbelief in his

poetry.
http://www.poets.org/poems/poems.cfm?45442B7C000C04010075http://www.poets.org/poems/poems.cfm?45442B7C000C04010075



Chance and Coincidence

Hap

Hardys most discussed and mostwidely used theme is that of chance

and coincidence. One entire volumeof poetry is devoted to the Satiresof Circumstance. For Hardy, therewas no omniscient ruling power of the

universe. The experiences in oneslife were a result of Chance andCoincidence.
http://www.sonnets.org/hardy.htmhttp://www.sonnets.org/hardy.htm



Now you can make your own decisions as towhether or not YOU think Hardys poetry isautobiographical. One thing I must warn you

ofthe author of a poem is not necessarily itsspeaker. Hardy is not necessarily the love-tornman and Emma is not necessarily the ghost he isseeking. The ultimate question for all of Hardys

poetry is

what is Mr. Hardys cosmos? WhatREALLY shapes his world?

If youre interested in Mr. Hardy as he has beendescribed here, please explore the websites on

the next slide.
http://localhost/var/www/Desktop/Harnisch_Webfolio/Excel/ExcelProject.xls


http://localhost/var/www/Desktop/Harnisch_Webfolio/Excel/ExcelProject.xls

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