Thomas Hardy

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Discussion Topic

The rhyme scheme, metre, and their influence on the meaning and dialogue structure in Hardy's "The Spell of the Rose"

Summary:

The rhyme scheme and metre in Hardy's "The Spell of the Rose" enhance the lyrical quality and emotional resonance of the poem. The structured dialogue and rhythmic patterns underscore the themes of love and loss, creating a poignant and reflective tone. This meticulous structuring aids in emphasizing the depth of the characters' emotions and the overall narrative impact.

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What is the rhyme scheme and metre in Hardy's "The Spell of the Rose"?

Let's look at the language of the first stanza; I will put stressed syllables in a bold font and use the "|" symbol to separate metrical feet:

I mean | to build | a hall | a non
And shape | two tur | rets there
And a | broad new | elled stair
And a | cool well | for cry | stal wa | ter
Yes; I | will build | a hall | a non
Plant ro | ses love | shall feed | u pon
And ap | ple trees | and pear

The first line has four feet, each consisting of one unaccented syllable followed by one accented syllable: these are called iambs. This meter is called iambic tetrameter. The second line, however, only has three iambs. This is called iambic trimeter. The third line has three iambs as well, but then the fourth line not only has four iambs (like the first line), but it also has an extrametrical syllable at the end "("ter"). The fifth line has four iambs; the sixth line has four as well, and the the final and seventh line of the stanza has only three. We would go with the meter used most frequently in the poem, so we can call this a work written in iambic tetrameter: four feet per (most) lines and the foot is an iamb.

The rhyme scheme is as follows: abbcaac. This means that lines 1, 5, and 6 have end rhyme. Lines 2 and 3 also have end rhyme, and so do lines 4 and 7.

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How does rhyme and metre in Hardy's "The Spell of the Rose" influence the meaning and dialogue structure?

The rose of the title represents the love the husband never "planted" or nurtured in his relationship with his wife. His wife finally plants the roses (which symbolize love) that he promised, but she plants them too late. By the time the rosebush blooms, she is dead, and the husband is left with his regrets.

The rhyme scheme is regular, with the second and third words and the fifth and sixth words of each stanza rhyming, creating a singsong effect. The meter is also childlike and singsong, reinforcing the nursery rhyme-like voice of the speaker. Lines vary between six and eight beats. However—and this is where the meter gets interesting—it is also slightly "off." The beats vary from line-to-line, and some lines fall oddly flat (listen to it read), reflecting the something that is off-balance in the relationship.

This off-kilter relationship is also reflected in the dialogue. The opening stanza repeats the statement—the spoken words—of the husband saying he will build a hall and plant roses for love, but his words, after all, are not entirely true: he never does plant the all important roses, leading to "blight" in the relationship. In the fourth stanza, there is more "dialogue." But this too is a bit off-kilter. The wife talks, but to herself, creating a monologue rather than a conversation with her husband.

The literary devices in the poem, including the dialogue and the off-balance meter within the sing-song nursery rhyme structure, reflect the less-than-ideal relationship Hardy depicts.

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