© TTHA, 1997. Reproduced by permission
Designed for UD junior poets interested in
Thomas Hardy, or simply for those interested in poetry
Copyright Jeanna Harnisch 2003

Know specific details of Hardy’s biography
Have a broad understanding of how Hardy’s poetry results from his life experiences
Be exposed to the recurring themes of Hardy’s poetry
Be directed to the most helpful websites dealing with Thomas Hardy’s poetry
Copyright Jeanna Harnisch 2003

•Born in 1840, Thomas Hardy became known as a prominent novelist and poet in British and American literature.
•He published 8 volumes of poetry, one being published posthumously.
•Hardy’s poetry is commonly referred to as pessimistic and was not received well during his lifetime.
•One of the most common elements seen throughout
Hardy’s poetry is his use of autobiographical information within the poems
Copyright Jeanna Harnisch 2003

Thomas Hardy was born on June 2,
1840 in Higher Bockhampton in this cottage. Throughout his life, he would fondly remember this house and frequently visit it.
•Hardy spent his early life singing in the church choir with his father.
•He was a sickly child and was not able to attend school at a young age.
•At the age of 22, Hardy moved to London to become an architect.
Copyright Jeanna Harnisch 2003

Hardy first met his future wife, Emma
Gifford, at St. Juliot’s rectory in
1872. They married in 1874 This chance meeting would shape the next
40 years of Hardy’s life.
Emma Gifford was a woman of high social status. She had a very interesting personality and was always remember by visitors to the Hardy household. She died in
1912.
Thomas and Emma
Hardy resided at
Max Gate from
1884 onward.
Copyright Jeanna Harnisch 2003

Hardy’s first volume of poetry,
Wessex Poems, was published in
1898.
Hardy met Florence
Dugdale in 1907.
After Emma’s death in 1912,
Florence and Hardy married and continued to live at
Max Gate
Hardy died on January 11,
1928.
Copyright Jeanna Harnisch 2003

“Neutral Tones”
In Hardy’s earlier works, this was a favored theme. Love was never reciprocated or happy, but tedious and marked with infidelity. The poems of 1912-1913 written after Emma’s death are also considered love poems.
Copyright Jeanna Harnisch 2003

“The Oxen”
Hardy was a pronounced agnostic during his later life. His poetry is marked with his disbelief in God and a belief in some other ruling force within the universe. In some ways, Hardy needs the basis of belief to show disbelief in his poetry.
Copyright Jeanna Harnisch 2003

“Hap”
Hardy’s most discussed and most widely used theme is that of chance and coincidence. One entire volume of poetry is devoted to the “Satires of Circumstance.” For Hardy, there was no omniscient ruling power of the universe. The experiences in one’s life were a result of Chance and
Coincidence.
Copyright Jeanna Harnisch 2003

Now you can make your own decisions as to whether or not YOU think Hardy’s poetry is autobiographical. One thing I must warn you of…the author of a poem is not necessarily its speaker. Hardy is not necessarily the love-torn man and Emma is not necessarily the ghost he is seeking. The ultimate question for all of Hardy’s poetry is… what is Mr. Hardy’s cosmos? What
REALLY shapes his world?
If you’re interested in Mr. Hardy as he has been described here, please explore the websites on the next slide.
Copyright Jeanna Harnisch 2003

Copyright Jeanna Harnisch 2003