neutral tones - thomas hardy

“the sun was white”

colour imagery; sun being described as white is symbolic of lifelessness and death of the relationship

white connotes peace - no conflict, just emptiness

“the smile on your mouth was the deadest thing”

oxymoron emphasising how she has no feelings for him

the relationship is completely unnatural but they cling on nonetheless

or he is playing the victim by presenting her as insincere

“wrings with wrong”

alliteration gives a hope of togetherness but the silent “w” is deceiving showing how their relationship looks connected but it in fact is not

end-stopped line

the ending is a harsh reality that the relationship is over but he can’t accept it as he can’t let go of her (present by cyclical structure)

cyclical structure + cyclical ABBA rhyme scheme

a sense of hopelessness and no chance of progression; he can’t from her or let go of her past

dramatic monologue

reflects the one-sided nature of the relationship

biased view presenting her in a bad light as it doesn’t allow her to say her side which was common in Victorian Patriarchal Society as the blame was typically placed upon the woman