AQA GCSE ENGLISH LITERATURE - POETRY ANTHOLOGY: CHARACTER AND VOICE
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‘The Ruined Maid’ by Thomas Hardy
Learning objectives:
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AO1: respond to texts critically and imaginatively, select and evaluate
textual detail to illustrate and support interpretations.
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AO2: explain how language, structure and form contribute to writers’
presentation of ideas, themes and settings.
Pre-reading activity
1. What do you think ‘ruined maid’ might imply or mean? Think about
when the word ‘maid’ might have been used.
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2. Use a dictionary and write down the definition of the word ‘ameliorate’?
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AQA GCSE ENGLISH LITERATURE - POETRY ANTHOLOGY: CHARACTER AND VOICE
What did the she say?
 In groups of three, take three minutes to make a list of words to describe
how someone might speak a line of dialogue. What is the tone of voice or
what emotion or feeling are they expressing as they speak?
 Below are six quotations from the poem. On your own, read them a few
times.
 Work in groups of six and allocate one quote to each member of the
group. Learn the dialogue from the line you have been allocated and,
together, experiment with different ways of speaking the dialogue from the
line.
 Form new groups with people who are working on the same quotation as
you. Take it in turns to present your version of the quote to the other groups.
As a class, discuss which versions and interpretations seemed to work best.
“‘O didn’t you know I’d been ruined?’ said she.”
“‘Yes: that’s how we dress when we’re ruined,’ said she.”
“‘Some polish is gained with one’s ruin,’ said she.”
“‘We never do work when we’re ruined,’ said she.”
“‘True. One’s pretty lively when ruined,’ said she.”
“‘My dear – a raw country girl, such as you be,
Cannot quite expect that. You ain’t ruined,’ said she.”
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Predictions
 Based solely on these six quotations from the poem, what are your ideas
and impressions? What do you think the poem is going to be about? Think,
again, about the title of the poem. What does the tone of the poem seem to
be?
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Social and historical context
 Thomas Hardy was born in 1840 in Dorset, England; his hometown has
had a major influence on the themes, ideas and dialectal features in his poetry
and novels.
Investigate Victorian England
 Visit the following website to find out information about life for women
during the Victorian Era. Focus on the following topics in accordance to your
surname:
Surnames A-F: ‘Women’ and ‘On the pedestal’
Surnames G-L: ‘Hypocrisy and double standards’ and ‘Prostitution’
Surnames M-R: ‘Off Limits’ and ‘Enlightened View’
Surnames S-Z: ‘Redeemability’ and ‘Infection and Violence’
http://www.channel4.com/history/microsites/H/history/guide19/part10.html
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AQA GCSE ENGLISH LITERATURE - POETRY ANTHOLOGY: CHARACTER AND VOICE
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Women:
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On the pedestal:
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Hypocrisy and double standards:
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Prostitution:
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AQA GCSE ENGLISH LITERATURE - POETRY ANTHOLOGY: CHARACTER AND VOICE
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Off Limits:
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Enlightened View:
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Redeemibility (focus on Dickens and the ‘fallen woman’):
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Infection and Violence:
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AQA GCSE ENGLISH LITERATURE - POETRY ANTHOLOGY: CHARACTER AND VOICE
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Talk the talk
 Work in pairs to devise and write a short script. You are two old friends /
neighbours who have bumped into one another whilst out in town one day.
Character A still lives in the country (where life and work is hard) and is just
visiting town. Character B has moved to the town and has a new job. Life for
Character A has not changed. Life for character B seems to have changed
for the better. The dialogue should include comments on:
 such a surprise / chance meeting;
 life now compared to life before – where they live(d), their work, their
general lifestyle;
 how they have changed – in speech, appearance, (physically and
clothing), personality, actions, etc – or not.
When you have a final draft, rehearse your scripts for a performance. You
can mix and match and trial different versions as detailed below.
Character A is genuinely happy for
Character B mocks Character A’s
Character B.
country ways.
Character A appears to praise and be
Character B is embarrassed to have
happy for Character B but there is
come across someone from his / her old
mockery between the lines, it is false
life.
praise.
Character A is embarrassed by the
Character B is embarrassed to have
changes seen in Character B.
come across someone from his / her old
life – but tries to hide this by being
flippant and dismissive.
Character A feels sorry for herself.
Character B feels sorry for herself.
Character A feels sorry for Character B.
Character B feels sorry for Character A.
Character A feels sorry for Character B
Character B misses his / her old life and
but hides this fact by praising him / her.
is jealous and resentful of Character A.
Character A is jealous and resentful of
Character B flaunts her success.
Character B’s success.
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AQA GCSE ENGLISH LITERATURE - POETRY ANTHOLOGY: CHARACTER AND VOICE
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First impressions
 Read the poem. What are your first impressions? Make a note of your
ideas. 
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Translator
- "docks" (second stanza, line 6) are weeds
- "barton" (third stanza, line 9) is a farmyard
- "megrims" (fifth stanza, line 19) are migraines.
What type of poem is this?
 This poem is a form dramatic dialogue. In the poem, Hardy presents a
conversation between two women. One of the women is called ‘Melia. She
has moved away and has changed in many ways. As they talk, the role and
treatment of women during the Victorian era reveals itself as a major theme
within the poem. At the time, women were not treated equally to men. They
were forced to project an image of morality, and if they deviated away from
that image, they were seen as being tainted or soiled.
 In ‘The Ruined Maid’, Hardy uses irony and satire.
 Irony: This is a device writers use to express something different from
and often opposite to their literal meaning.
 Satire: Satire aims to show the reader the absurdity of human follies
and vices. Writers who use satire want the reader to acknowledge
such wrongs in society.
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AQA GCSE ENGLISH LITERATURE - POETRY ANTHOLOGY: CHARACTER AND VOICE
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Poetry detective
 How has ‘Melia changed? Work in pairs to make a note of examples from
the poem in the table below.
Changes in:
‘Melia’s life in the
country
appearance
attitude and
personality
voice (dialect, tone,
etc)
daily life
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Melia’s life in the town
as a ’ruined maid’
AQA GCSE ENGLISH LITERATURE - POETRY ANTHOLOGY: CHARACTER AND VOICE
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THE GREAT SOCIAL EVIL
 Examine the content of this cartoon. In groups of three, discuss the
questions alongside and any other ideas your group feels are important.
Feed back your ideas to your teacher and the rest of the class.
What does this
suggest about the way
a woman can achieve
success?
What are the
differences between
the prostitute and
the maid?
What is the
general view of
prostitution?
‘Gay’
referred to
prostitution
Consider the advantages and disadvantages of being:
A maid
A prostitute
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AQA GCSE ENGLISH LITERATURE - POETRY ANTHOLOGY: CHARACTER AND VOICE
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1. What is Hardy saying about the position of women?
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2. Why isn’t it possible to have the advantages of both a maid and
prostitute during the Victorian Era?
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3. Is it possible to be virtuous and also have luxuries in today’s society?
Why or why not?
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4. Do other countries across the world have similar attitudes to the
position of women? Which countries have this attitude and why is it that
way?
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AQA GCSE ENGLISH LITERATURE - POETRY ANTHOLOGY: CHARACTER AND VOICE
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Let’s take a closer look
Answer the following questions by providing quotes and analysis. Think PEE!
Stanzas 1-2
1. How has ‘Melia gained prosperity?
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2. How / why is that ironic?
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3. What is the rhyme scheme? How does that contribute to the tone?
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Stanzas 3-4
1. Why is it ironic that Amelia is fit for ‘high company’?
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2. What is the reaction of the old friend?
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AQA GCSE ENGLISH LITERATURE - POETRY ANTHOLOGY: CHARACTER AND VOICE
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3. Why do you think Hardy has decided to use the Dorset dialect? What
is the effect?
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Stanzas 5-6
1. Look carefully at what ‘Melia’s friend says in the final stanza. What is
satirical about her dialogue?
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2. Considering that Amelia has become more ‘sophisticated’ in the eyes
of her friend, why do you think Amelia slips back into her Dorset dialect
when she says: ‘You ain’t ruined,’. Do you think there was a reason for
this?
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3. Overall, what is the serious point or the message of the poem?
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4. At the end of each stanza, ‘Melia always has the last line. Each time,
the last line ends with the refrain: “‘…ruined,’ said she.” She answers
in an almost a matter-of-fact tone. Why is that ironic?
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AQA GCSE ENGLISH LITERATURE - POETRY ANTHOLOGY: CHARACTER AND VOICE
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5. Why do you think Hardy decided to use the name Amelia? Look back
at the definition of ‘ameliorate’ and determine what Hardy’s message
could have been.
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Chatterbox
 THINK
 What is your overall impression of the poem?
 Do you think Hardy is a feminist? Do you think that Hardy really feels
that the young maid’s life is ruined?
 Is the new maid’s life better than her old life?
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 PAIR
Take 3 minutes to discuss your opinions with your partner and justify your
ideas. Add any further issues you have uncovered.
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 SHARE
Feed back your ideas to your teacher and the rest of the class.
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AQA GCSE ENGLISH LITERATURE - POETRY ANTHOLOGY: CHARACTER AND VOICE
Theme tree
In groups of three, draw a theme tree to capture all your ideas.
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AQA GCSE ENGLISH LITERATURE - POETRY ANTHOLOGY: CHARACTER AND VOICE
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My Itchy Toes Smell Loads
 Complete the table below with what you consider to be the
most important quotes and poetic devices within each
category.
meaning
imagery
tone
Structure
and Form
language
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AQA GCSE ENGLISH LITERATURE - POETRY ANTHOLOGY: CHARACTER AND VOICE
Comparing poems
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AO3: Make comparisons and explain links between texts, evaluating
writers’ different ways of expressing meaning and achieving effects
 Use the Venn diagram to find the differences and similarities between
the two poems.
‘The ruined maid’
‘les grands seigneurs’
Sample exam question
 Compare the ways women are represented in ‘The Ruined Maid’ and
‘Les Grand Seigneurs’.
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AQA GCSE ENGLISH LITERATURE - POETRY ANTHOLOGY: CHARACTER AND VOICE
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Planning an essay
 Using MITSL as a guide, create an essay plan or spider diagram for your
essay question. You must include 3 - 5 points of comparison. Number each
point in the order you would write about them in your exam. When you write
your essay, remember to analyse structural and poetic devices for their
effect and meaning. Don’t just list.
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AQA GCSE ENGLISH LITERATURE - POETRY ANTHOLOGY: CHARACTER AND VOICE
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The Ruined Maid
‘O ’Melia, my dear, this does everything crown!
Who could have supposed I should meet you in Town?
And whence such fair garments, such prosperi-ty?’ –
‘O didn’t you know I’d been ruined?’ said she.
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– ‘You left us in tatters, without shoes or socks,
Tired of digging potatoes, and spudding up docks;
And now you’ve gay bracelets and bright feathers three!’ –
‘Yes: that’s how we dress when we’re ruined,’ said she.
– ‘At home in the barton you said “thee” and “thou”,
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And “thik oon”, and “theäs oon”, and “t’other”; but now
Your talking quite fits ’ee for high compa-ny!’ –
‘Some polish is gained with one’s ruin,’ said she.
– ‘Your hands were like paws then, your face blue and bleak
But now I’m bewitched by your delicate cheek,
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And your little gloves fit as on any la-dy!’ –
‘We never do work when we’re ruined,’ said she.
– ‘You used to call home-life a hag-ridden dream,
And you’d sigh, and you’d sock; but at present you seem
To know not of megrims or melancho-ly!’ –
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‘True. One’s pretty lively when ruined,’ said she.
– ‘I wish I had feathers, a fine sweeping gown,
And a delicate face, and could strut about Town!’ –
‘My dear – a raw country girl, such as you be,
Cannot quite expect that. You ain’t ruined,’ said she.
Thomas Hardy
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AQA GCSE ENGLISH LITERATURE - POETRY ANTHOLOGY: CHARACTER AND VOICE
Acknowledgments and thanks
Written by Chantel Mathias and Amanda Fiegel
Introduction and copy by Karen Bishop
Audio file scripts and recordings by Barrie McDermid - www.podcastrevision.co.uk
Interactive resources and design by David Riley - www.triptico.co.uk
Every effort has been made to contact copyright holders of material reproduced in this collection. If
notified, we will be pleased to rectify any errors / omissions.
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