GCSE (9-1): Literature: Poetry: AQA Love and Relationships: Neutral Tones: Context

Author's name

Thomas Hardy

1840

when Thomas Hardy was born

1928

Hardy died in 1928 and his ashes were placed in 'Poet's corner' in Westminster Abbey

Thomas Hardy's early life

Hardy grew up in a poor rural Dorset family, but moved into London for his career.

profession

a novelist and poet

Far From the Madding Crowd'

one of Hardy's famous novels that was turned into a movie

When Hardy met his wife Emma Gifford

1870

When Hardy wrote 'Neutral Tones'

1867

effects of the publication of 'Far From the Madding Crowd' on Hardy's life

The publication of this book meant he could give up architecture, marry Emma Gifford and focus on his writing

how Hardy's intense focus on writing affected his marriage with Emma Gifford

their marriage slowly fell apart and Hardy spent more and more time locked away doing his studies

Emma Gifford Thomas Hardy's deteriorating marriage

Over time they became estranged and even ate and slept separately

Thomas Hardy's dark novels

As their marriage failed, Hardy wrote more and more novels and they became more and more dark, such as 'Jude the Obscure' which dared to challenge Victorian ideas about marriage and was widely criticized and even banned by libraries

Emma Gifford's death

Emma died in 1912 and Hardy was overcome with emotion and wrote a series of poems expressing his grief

Thomas Hardy's relationship with city life and nature

He hated city life, and often moved to and from the countryside as his work permitted.

major influences on Thomas Hardy's poetry

his poetry was very much influenced by the literary movement of Romanticism.

The Industrial Revolution

marked a shift from country life to city life; machines were invented, which could complete work quicker than humans had done in the past, bringing about big changes in agriculture, manufacturing and transport.

1760

the beginning ot the Industrial Revolution

the human effect of the Industrial Revolution

conditions in industrial factories were often terrible; children were often used as workers because they could fit in and around the machinery, so it wasn't uncommon for six year olds to be working nineteen hour days in these factories.

The Romantic Period

Generally believed to be the period between 1789, the date of the French Revolution, and 1832, the year which saw the passing of the Great Reform Act

Romantic literature

Literature written during the Romantic Period which featured a change of values from rationalism, realism and empiricism to originality, and expression of the individual

Typical characteristics of Romantic literature

experimenting with traditional forms, focus on nature, self-expressive rather than repressive and often criticising social issues, politics, traditional institutions and the industrial revolution

Hardy's relationship with science and religion

Hardy rejected religion with the growth of Science (he attended Darwin's funeral in 1882).

Hardy's beliefs about marriage and life

He said of marriage and life, that 'during their brief transit through this sorry world' people should be able to pursue what they want.