Lecture Notes: Analysis of Thomas Hardy's Poem 'At an Inn'

Introduction

• Focus on language and structure of Hardy's poem.
• Setting: A pub (inn) as a central location.
• Exploration of themes of love, societal judgment, and unfulfilled potential.

Stanza-by-Stanza Analysis

Stanza 1

• Key Events: Two strangers enter a pub.
• Language: Alliteration with 'strangers sought' and 'catering care' highlights comfort and curiosity.
• Themes:
  • Judgment and Perception: Euphemism and veiled smiles suggest others judge the couple as romantically involved.
  • Speculation: Words like 'warmed' and 'resigned' imply societal assumptions of marriage, reflecting speaker's preoccupations.

Stanza 2

• Alliteration: 'Swift sympathy' and 'living love' emphasize idealized love.
• Narrative Perspective:
  • Outsiders perceive the couple as in love, creating dramatic irony.
  • Exploration of potential supernatural influence ('Spheres above') despite Hardy's agnosticism.
• Irony: Pub dwellers’ longing for the couple’s perceived happiness contrasts with reality.

Stanza 3

• Shift in Tone: No alliteration; stark and chilling.
• Reality Check:
  • Capitalization of 'Love': Indicates perceived unity which is actually absent.
  • Metaphors: 'Chilled the breath of afternoon' and 'pulsed unto death' suggest cold, futile relationship.
• Imagery: Represents relationship as a futile as 'pane-fly's tune.'

Stanza 4

• Expectation vs. Reality:
  • Public expectation of a kiss symbolizes societal pressure.
  • Speaker's internal conflict and questioning of God.
• Narrative Change: Third person perspective enhances power and frustration.
• Literary Reference: Allusion to King Lear about being toys for gods, enhancing themes of powerlessness and societal norms.

Stanza 5

• Temporal Shift: Reflection on past desires versus present reality.
• Alliteration: 'Aching are' and 'severing sea' emphasize emotional and physical separation.
• Societal Constraints: 'Laws of men' and time/distance as obstacles to love.
• Final Sentiment: Comparison to Tennyson, exploring themes of love and loss.

Themes and Implications

• Societal Critique: Victorian society's superficial judgments.
• Emotional Conflict: Speaker’s bitterness and unresolved feelings.
• Stylistic Elements: Use of exclamation marks and speech marks indicate emotive, yet resigned, sentiments.
• Conclusion: Poem reflects on unfulfilled potential of love constrained by societal norms. Hardy’s pessimistic tone and emotional depth challenge societal expectations and highlight personal regret.