[Hardy-l] Hardy poems to juxtapose with Hardy novels

[JoAnna Mink]

Dear Beth, et al:
 
When I taught RN last fall in a seminar which focused on  TH's use of landscape as an underlying theme, I included these poems, mainly because of their imagery:
The Darkling Thrush (CP 119) 
Neutral Tones (CP 9)
At Rushy Pond (CP 680)
The Moth-Signal (CP 324). 
And I threw in Overlooking the River Stour (CP 424) because I liked it.
 
But if you want to discuss locations, including TH's map, I'd recommend that chapter in Scott Rode's recent book. And then you could branch out to include more poems, such as The Roman Road (CP 218). 
 
Juxtaposing reading the novels and poetry is rewarding.  And, since TH loved music, I played some tracks from The Mellstock Band's CD:  "The Barley Mow" - Book Fourth, Chapt iv  and "Down in Cupid's Gardens" - Book Fourth, Chapt iv (from Songs of Thomas Hardy's Wessex. Saydisc, 1995.)
 
I also showed the village dance scene (Book Fourth, Chapt iii) from Thomas Hardy’s The Return of the Native. (Dir. Jack Gold. Perf. Catherine Zeta-Jones, Clive Owen, Ray Stevenson. Hallmark Hall of Fame, 1994).  I know that wasn't a great film adaptation but this bit does give American students an idea of country dancing and show how one could flirt (fall in love?) during the dance (also relevant in _Tess_), as TH shows in At a Pause in a Country Dance (CP 747), to mention yet another poem.
 
Cheers,
JoAnnaJoAnna S. MinkProfessor Emerita of English



From: bsutton-ramspeck at lima.ohio-state.eduTo: hardy-l at coyote.csusm.eduDate: Thu, 11 Sep 2008 16:47:14 -0400Subject: [Hardy-l] Hardy poems to juxtapose with Hardy novels



As I plan the syllabus for my upcoming Hardy class, I'd like your advice about poems that work well alongside _Return of the Native_, _The Mayor of Casterbridge_, and _Jude_.  (I think I have _Tess_ under control.).  I'll spend some time dealing with poetry as a separate genre, but what I'm looking for here is poems you've successfully juxtaposed with these novels in your teaching (or scholarship). 
 
Thanks,
Beth 
 
Beth Sutton-RamspeckAssociate Professor of EnglishThe Ohio State University at LimaLima, OH 45804sutton-ramspeck.1 at osu.edu
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