Summary and analysis of During Wind and Rain by Thomas Hardy: 2022

INTRODUCTION TO THOMAS HARDY-

Thomas Hardy was born in the year 1840, in Dorset. Being a follower of Charles Dcikens, Hardy was a critic of the Victorian society. Hardy is considered among the famous English writers, and most of his works revolve around the tragidies caused by the social circumstances.

INTRODUCTION TO DURING WIND AND RAIN-

“”During Wind and Rain” by Thomas Hardy is a beautiful poem that portrays the memories of the protagonist with his family.

SETTING OF DURING WIND AND RAIN-

The poem is set around a house where a loving family lives. The surroundings of the house have been mentioned, for instance their breakfast picnic in garden.

POETIC DEVICES IN DURING WIND AND RAIN-

ALLITERATION-
“They sing their dearest songs—”
“They clear the creeping moss—”
“They are blithely breakfasting all—”

STYLE OF DURING WIND AND RAIN-

“They sing their dearest songs—  (A)
He, she, all of them—yea,  (B)
Treble and tenor and bass,  (C)
And one to play;  (D)
With the candles mooning each face …  (E)
Ah, no; the years O!  (F)
How the sick leaves reel down in throngs!” (A)

SUMMARY OF DURING WIND AND RAIN-

The poem has been written in third person with the protagonist feeling a sense of nostalgia and thus, remembering the good times he spent with his loving family. The speaker tells us that they used to sing their favorite songs with one member playing a musical instrument, a bass. This celebration was a routine occurrence where all the family sat together to enjoy themselves. The last line takes a sad turn, the speaker remembering the time which separated the family. The mention of falling leaves during Autumn provides a chilling imagery, suggestive of separation due to death. The speaker then remembers how the elders and junior members used to clean the garden of moss together, building a bench to sit on in the sun during winters. But now, the garden is empty, only the winter birds return their, not his family. He remembers how all the members, men and women used to have breakfast in early mornings of the summer season, sitting under shade but now the wild roses that grew on the wall have rotten, just like with the time the family has gone. The speaker tells us that the family then changes houses, they remove their belongings from the lawn to move to a bigger, more luxurious house. He remembers the “brightening” memories and with the passage of years, the home of the family is now the graveyard. The speaker is shown standing in the graveyard, watching rain drop on his family members’ grave.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF DURING WIND AND RAIN-

The poem is a beautiful composition which highlights the importance of memories, the strength of time and despite the seemingly gloomy ending has a note of positivity to it. The vivid imagery and the poet’s regular mention of greenery and different seasons provides the idea of regeneration and continuation of life.

TONE OF DURING WIND AND RAIN-

The tone of the poem is both calm, happy and gloomy. The speaker of the poem is feeling a sense of nostalgia, remembering both the good times he spent with his family and the gloomy moments of their death, accordingly, the tone of the poem moves from being fond and happy to that of sadness and gloom.

CONCLUSION-

The poem is successful in reminding the readers of the importance and strength of time and that the life goes on, the earth regenerates itself. The time is both the creater and the destroyer.
Contributor: Radhika Goel