Write a critical appreciation on The Darkling Thrush paying close attention to form, structure, theme, tone and use

of language.

Thomas Hardys poem, The Darkling Thrush quaintly portrays how happiness can be achieved from the most unexpected of sources. The overall mood of the poem is of one birds happiness versus the desolateness of nature and the speaker himself. It is these contrasting emotions which serve to highlight the positive change in the speakers attitude in the final stanza. However, it is his unique juxtaposition of the dying world to the ordered way in which he describes it which helps in creating a lasting appeal of the poem. The poem is a lyrical ballad and is conventional in its use of rhyme and meter. It is effective in providing some semblance of order in contrast to the chaos in which nature is presented. The contrast presented by the chaotic scene with the ordered descriptions gives the poem added depth as the speakers feelings are more adequately expressed. This emotional depth also allows the despair and meaningless felt by the speaker to likewise enfold the reader. The poem is comprised of four stanzas, each with eight lines, the rhyme scheme for each octet being ABABCDCD. This aids in the sing song nature of the poem as well as places a subtle emphasis on the title as a thrush is a small bird with brown plumage who sings beautifully. It is this bird around who the happiness and vitality revolve as ultimately his full-hearted evensong is the catalyst for change. The meter utilized is an iambic tetrameter which works in conjunction with the rhyme scheme to produce the song like pattern in The Darkling Thrush. The opening stanza of the poem is what establishes the initial tone and setting of the poem which is both reflective as well as despondent. Phrases such as specter-grey and Winters dregs aptly portrays both the sparseness of the landscape as well as the season, which is winter. The visual images created aid in this reflective mood as his isolation is noted by, all mankindtheir household fires. However, this tone alters towards the end of the ballad as the thrush, which is a representation of hope and continuity, sings despite its gauntness and frailty. It

is the source of joy from such an unlikely source which emphasizes the shift in the speakers mood, and on a wider scale, the tone. The braveness of one small and insignificant bird to fling his soul/upon the growing gloom is what causes the change in the speakers perspective as the song is infused with hope. The major themes explored in the poem are nature and human emotions. Unlike Romantic poets who often saw nature as uplifting and something to be celebrated, the speakers despair spills over into the description of a landscape at the brink of collapse. The Centurys corpse outleant is a suggestion of this collapse as rather than showing the beginning of a new century, it suggests the death of that new century. Nature does not provide vitality but rather, it expounds on the lack of it. The bare trees and barren landscape all help in encompassing this theme as well as tying it to the bleakness of human nature. Thus, rather than being a symbol of hope, it is one of indifference and bleakness.

The despondency faced by the speaker is shown in his final line of the second octet as he laments that everything, Seemed as fervourless as I. Ultimately, even though the thrush is supposed to bring about the change in mood, there is still a ring of sadness as the thrush itself is frail, gaunt and small. This in itself may mean that the happiness is limited and this extends to its evensong which eventually will end in the weakening eye of day. In essence, the lack of hope is not fully erased by the thrush as even it, while valiantly singing despite the gloomy setting, is as aged and near death as the landscape. The language used in the poem is highly reminiscent of the speakers attitude within himself as well as towards the surroundings. Mainly, through use of personifications such as The Centurys corpse and weakening eye of day the poet brings life to the landscape while conveying its death-like features. This use of paradox is also extended to the title as the vibrancy of a thrush is at odds with darkling which is associated with blandness and darkness. Visual images are also used to portray desolateness as well as hope with the poets use of bleak twigs overhead and full-hearted evensong.

The Darkling Thrush, while presenting a bleak view of the world and its environs, has a somewhat lasting effect which is represented by the thrush who even though approaching death, still has the courage to sing and encourage others to take joy in simple pleasures.