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Summary I look into my glass by Thomas Hardy Poem Analysis.
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I look into my glass by Thomas Hardy Poem Analysis. Colorful and compact poem analysis. Past papers used
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I Look into My GlassBY THOMAS HARDY
1. I look into my glass,
"I Look into My Glass" is a poem written by Thomas Hardy that
explores the theme of aging and the contrast between the 2. And view my wasting skin,
physical body and the emotions. In the poem, Hardy looks into 3. And say, “Would God it came to pass
a mirror and sees his "wasting skin".
4. My heart had shrunk as thin!”
He wishes that his heart had shrunk as thin as his body, so he
could wait for his death with peace. However, time does not
allow him to do so. 5. For then, I, undistrest
It steals away his youth and vitality, while his body continues to 6. By hearts grown cold to me,
age and his emotions remain strong. The poem reflects Hardy's 7. Could lonely wait my endless rest
struggle with the passage of time and the impact it has on his
8. With equanimity.
identity.
9. But Time, to make me grieve,
TONE: thoughtful and reflective. He's reflecting back over his life 10. Part steals, lets part abide;
and his past relationships as well.
11. And shakes this fragile frame at eve
12. With throbbings of noontide.
Pace: The pace, how fast or how slow the poem is read, is very
slow and thoughtful, apart from the final two lines: "And shakes
this fragile frame at eve with robins of noontide." These last two
lines are full of passion.
The interesting thing about this poem is that it was only written
when THOMAS HARDY was 57. So, he was only 57 years old when
this was written, which really is not that old at all.
, Hardy's fascination with glass is also evident in his poetry. Glass is
described as an "ethereal substance" that allows sight but forbids
physical contact. It is both a barrier and a medium, holding
within itself contrary states. This ambiguity of glass mirrors the
ambiguity of Hardy's emotions in the poem. The looking glass, in
particular, is a paradoxical object that reflects a deceptive
likeness of the person looking into it. It creates a projection that 1. I look into my glass,
reverses the left-right sides and falsely "materializes" intangible 2. And view my wasting skin,
features. This mirrors Hardy's own struggle with his aging body 3. And say, “Would God it came to pass
and vibrant emotions. 4. My heart had shrunk as thin!”
5. For then, I, undistrest
If the heart that beats in the speaker’s chest had shrunk as thin as
6. By hearts grown cold to me,
the skin that covers his ageing body, he wouldn’t care about the
7. Could lonely wait my endless rest
people in his life who no longer care for him.
8. With equanimity.
9. But Time, to make me grieve,
But sadly, he concludes, this is nature’s way: time and age has
10. Part steals, lets part abide;
taken away his youthful looks but leaves him the (useless) desire.
11. And shakes this fragile frame at eve
There is an air of anxious irritation in the alliterative ‘fragile frame’
12. With throbbings of noontide.
in that final stanza, which suggests one whose body has grown
cold with age – and, indeed, with the cold hearts that have
shunned him.
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