Thomas Hardy: 'Neutral Tones' Mr Bruff Analysis

[@bimboodekunle4296]

I wonder if the poet thought about all of this when writing his poem

[@sebastianobrussato7745]

'Pond' the use of this noun possibly represents the cyclical nature of life, this works perfectly with the poem being cyclical itself, it speaks of a relationship and comes to somewhat of a conclusion. The enjambment could present the passage of time, the lack of enjambment in the final stanza shows a juxtaposition in the passage of time, the man has gotten over the woman and perhaps does not care about the woman but is still effected by the woman, as presented in the quote, 'have shaped to me.'

[@official.rme7331]

You know

[@official.rme7331]

@@sebastianobrussato7745 Thank you so much for this

[@Blue08326]

Same 😅. I sometimes thing that poets subconsciously jot down words that never knew they could be interpreted in various ways

[@jodieheathertaylor6400]

You must get so many more views the night before the exam

[@izzykeegan6428]

ME RNNNN!!

[@Byebyebye_34]

My teacher literally showed your comment as a bad example to why you shouldn’t study last minute

[@anna-p6h5p]

@@Byebyebye_34 AHAHAHHASGH

[@readjake768]

PLZ READ the ryhme scheme is perfect throughout, apart from one half-rhyme of 'rove' and 'love' the reader naturally wishes for the rhyme scheme to continue and so 'loath' is what the reader is wanting to pronounce instead of the word love. is this representing his true emotion? can i have some alternative opinions on the significance of this?

[@Sireneyedbimbor]

THANK YOU. SO MUCH.

[@ihussain5590]

U can definitely. Thank youuuu

[@anna.xo1]

You're a genius! Thank uu

[@readjake768]

annabellex i don’t remember writing this but yw

[@pockypu]

@@readjake768 lmaoooo

[@robbiehicks7960]

This man is a genius.

[@simplyfran7041]

I wanted to write notes during this video , but the content baffled me it's so detailed and saturated😂I was so shocked I had to stop and listen ( then I replayed it and wrote notes) Thankyou mr bruff, your videos are amazing !!

[@mrbruff]

+franceska tchapdeu thanks! Buy the ebook - I've written it all down in there

[@ideklol9639]

Best analysis on this poem out there, had so many new points thankyou

[@JamesCarthy]

In terms of circular structure, I would also argue that the ending having the memory of the pond become 'greyish' could reflect how his memory of his relationship is now dead, symbolising his moving on. However, it could also convey how Hardy feels that his love continues to become increasingly cynical and deceitful.

[@mrbruff]

+MalarkeyJames good point

[@Ab-kx4xv]

Thanks Mr Bruff! I really like your channel *_And_* your analysis on these poems *_And_* your various ideas *_And_* your unique interpretations *_And_* your sense of humor *_And_* your humble attitude *_And_* your revision songs *_And_* your insight into the different texts *_And_* the student exemplars you have given to help *_And_* the exam tips _And_ I want you to know, you have really helped me *_And_* I think you deserve a nobel prize for saving so many of our GCSEs.

[@박지연-p3c]

Thank you~ Here in Korea.

[@mrbruff]

+박지연 awesome! Are you studying this poem there?

[@박지연-p3c]

+mrbruff I have subscribed for your channel today. Not yet heard your address. I am interested in English Literature. I'm also preparing for the master's degree about Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. Last semester we had studied Thomas Hardy's two novel, Tess and The Obscure of Jude.

[@mrbruff]

+박지연 great!

[@gemmamcchesney6579]

Mr. bruff, i really learn alot from your videos we also watched them in class (year10) and i find it so helpful thankyou alot

[@sanaafzalmir]

Such a detailed and descriptive explanation. Thank you.

[@mrbruff]

I'm glad you found it useful!

[@kingray3879]

Something you forgot to mention on form is that the first and last sentences in each stanza rhyme which reflects how his his memory of the past experience is never ending

[@sadiasultana8367]

Currently watching this at *2 speed

[@GREATSLUMBER]

same lmaoo

[@Ataleoftwostrays]

Thankyou, I'm studying for my English lit gcses and this really helped improve my understanding of neutral tones!

[@owainevans7175]

Lit 2 tommorow?

[@saintprodigy9670]

Owain Evans what poem and theme do you think will come up???

[@ken-yo2hz]

@@saintprodigy9670 farmer's bride

[@alexyordanov8898]

@@ken-yo2hz I also think it will be the Farmer's Bride or Porphyria's Lover.

[@timug4910]

Letters from yorkshire will and finna kashoot myself

[@ThePokeHimOn]

Thank you very much for this fantastic detailed resources which I'm sure will be useful to students for many years to come.

[@mrbruff]

No problem!

[@watchmedo635]

Thank you Mr Bruff! Helped me make more sense of this poem :)

[@aman1010rules]

Hi there, could you possibly make videos on the Edexcel Relationships poems?

[@mehsen3703]

You make everything seem harder.

[@astronomicalproductions5889]

12:48 should be ‘tedious riddles of years ago’ not ‘solved ago’

[@NomanKhan-bd4st]

I've watched all your videos in the love and relationships three times but I still keep forgetting them.These 3 times were scattered around the year as well - from january.

[@NomanKhan-bd4st]

nigga its me 1 year later and im failing how do u rembemermeeremremr these shit poems/

[@anonymous-ns1xd]

@@NomanKhan-bd4st 😂

[@writeract2]

I'd disagree on last stanza - i'd say Hardy is saying any future experiences that again reiterated to him that love can be deceptive, hurtful, cruel will immediately bring to mind that moment in time with this love and love experience, and all the featues of that moment associated with it - her face, the cursed by God sun, the tree and the pond edged with the grayish leavse of the tree.

[@drinkbleach9570]

The mr hegarty of english

[@writeract2]

I also don't the tone of this poem as "angry" but more sad, wiser, looking back with the eye of experience and wistful. Also disagree that this is a negative poem, it is a poem about life and love; the speaker's wisdom in years hence encapsulated in an earlier moment of time which remains embedded in his memory.

[@lovehurricanesmorethanstor818]

That was indeed so good and deep loved your vocabulary I am happy I got points to write in exams thankyou

[@kurtcobain3426]

wow i learnt so much thanks

[@ska9708]

you are truly amazing! just a question how would I structure all this information into paragraphs? it would be really helpful if you gave headings for paragraphs I could write based on all this info. thank u so much

[@samhutchins7321]

Your videos are helping me so much, thank you! Please do more on the edexcel relationships poetry! :)

[@mrbruff]

great! I will try!

[@Ojay-ic4qi]

Are you not adding anymore videos to the love and relationship unit

[@mrbruff]

+O.jay soon

[@charlenekoomson5238]

could you analyse the other poems in that cluster please

[@yasmingill9327]

ngl- i watched this the morning of my gcse exam (having only revised one other poem to the point of knowing it off-by-heart) and walked out w a 9. Thanks mrbruff!! xxx

[@kiwisa2626]

Thank you so much😭😭😭😭

[@mrbruff]

No problem

[@tanya913]

Who else is here night before english lit exam, mini exams 2021 💪🏽 let’s go

[@mattgilchrist3390]

You are a hero sir!

[@mrbruff]

+Matt Gilchrist thanks

[@fj3571]

Please make more of these for the edexcel relationships collection.

[@saraalab]

*clap clap clap👏 thanks for the great analysis

[@mrbruff]

+Sarah Alabi thanks

[@alexandruiftime456]

Does it start with "a pond" and end with "the pond"?

[@Linda-be3ki]

Thank you soooooo much for this video

[@mrbruff]

No problem

[@ryan7987]

Do you teach Wuthering Heights, Jane Eyre or The Great Gatsby for A Level? :) If you do, could you please make some videos, I'd really appreciate it! Thank you :D

[@mrbruff]

+Ryan Houston Gatsby videos up already: search

[@tractortee9915]

Will you be doing any poems from the edexcel relationships anthology. This is the only video that is relevant for the edexcel board and it was very helpfull, it would be great if you could do more.

[@mrbruff]

+tractortee could you list the poems?

[@thunderinghooves9561]

yes please do these ones

[@avabiox]

2024 any predicitions for the poem?

[@rhiannonm8772]

Hi, I just have a quick question, if Hardy rejected religion what was his purpose for mentioning God twice in the poem? Thank you!

[@sachikominsat705]

Personally, I think that the second mention of God was simply a way to link back to the first stanza. Those last two lines mirror the description of the first scene in other ways, such as the mention of the "grayish leaves". As for why he mentioned God at all, I'm not entirely sure, but that's why he uses religious imagery twice. Hope this helped EDIT: Just watched more of the video and God links to the supernatural themes present in poems of the Romantic Era

[@rhiannonm8772]

Sachiko Minsat: Thankyou 😀

[@chip7834]

Watching this cause I was absent when we covered it in class, thanks a ton :D But mannn it’s alot, I’ll do my best to break it down though

[@mrbruff]

You might want to use the free worksheet at mrbruff.com/worksheets to help break things down.

[@chip7834]

Thank you

[@jamesmatthews5838]

Thanks sooooo Much. i Ha ve my Mock exam on Friday so i really need to know meaty quotes.... If you know any for this, please comment them to me....

[@owainevans4875]

You said 'a pond' changed to 'the pond' but it didn't. Did you not mean to say pond or...?

[@AnnzzLyfe]

I rlly hope ur analysises r grade 9 or at the very least a 6. That is wat I need in English to take me to college anyway

[@Matchesta]

Annzz. Lyfe what did u get

[@hayleyk1457]

Hello MR Bruff, maybe this is a big ask, but is it possible you could add annotations/ subtitles to your work? I understand how this can really maximise your work, but I think it would really help those who are hard of hearing, thank you so much!!

[@mrbruff]

I do want to do this, and I will look into getting it done.

[@hayleyk1457]

Thank you so much!!! This would help so much, i appreciate you looking into it :')

[@lukecoutinho6628]

what does indifferent mean?

[@hazelrobertson2403]

Just a bit confused, you mention his reference to a pond changes to the pond, but it doesn't actually change in the poem

[@mrbruff]

Can you point out where I say this please?

[@polyquadratus5304]

@@mrbruff 13:00 I was confused about this as well

[@x_muffinya_x]

Could be "Neutral" because only grey and white are mentioned, with no bring or vibrant colours

[@huda613]

the context part..just how much do we need to memorise???

[@poppyella2205]

Probably not too much, it's just useful if there's a point you wish to link it to. In poetry, AO3 which includes context is 15% of the mark you'd get for the entire answer, so ensure you put a little in. On the other hand, if you just list information on context and don't link it to the language techniques then it'll be worth nothing. I like the information mr. buff gave on the word Chidden; Many of Hardy's language choices reflect a much more archaic period than the victorian times, ‘chidden’ is derived from the 12th century word meaning rebuked - is an example of using context, if you were to go on to analyse more.

[@huda613]

(omg i cant remember even writing this comment 2 months ago lol) but thanks i see now .. mr bruff always has like the beginning part of the videos about the poet and their life but i never know how / where to include it in my essay

[@sabz85]

what do you think an example exam question for this poem could be?

[@poppyella2205]

It's hard to predict because it could essentially be on anything, but it's likely to be on use of nature, memory, symbolism, or endings of a relationship, to be linked with another poem. Never plan for specific questions though, it could be on something crazy and unpredictable and you'd just have to work around that.

[@Hm_-lm7hw]

Sir could you please do farmer's bride as well ?

[@thunderinghooves9561]

Please could you do the poems in relationships from the edexcel poetry anthology? :)

[@nayanidavies-patel9279]

what it the form? can someone give a time because idk🤣

[@michelavismara]

Finding these really helpful thanks. Can you do eden rock by charles causley???

[@mrbruff]

+Michela Vismara yes

[@lizzieseal6082]

I like the idea that the bleak natural imagery shows nature's indifference as opposed to the bleak situation, but what does the fact that nature is indifferent actually say about love and relationships- what is the message behind this? Also, why mention God if Hardy rejected religion? Thanks

[@evieantoniou9255]

my teachers asked us to write the meaning of 'God-curst sun' but i couldn't find the meaning. Who knows what it means?

[@alixfoster8019]

hello! I really like the channel! I am taking my gcse next year and I was wondering whether you could analyse the other poems in the cluster love and relationships? many thanks :)

[@mrbruff]

+Alix Foster will do them all by the exam

[@alixfoster8019]

+mrbruff thanks so much!!

[@milliesimmons5475]

Please do one on lord of the flies!!!!!

[@mrbruff]

I have! Check the playlists.

[@sameerproductions5687]

Please make moreeeeeeeeeeee!!!!

[@nicolleforrest8492]

Is romanticism a point for form?

[@mrbruff]

+N F genre, which is assessed under context

[@nicolleforrest8492]

Thank you!

[@nanodash3748]

Thanks

[@vqshadow7772]

Night before a mock exam

[@richardlaursen00]

So is romanticism itself a historical form of poem?

[@mrbruff]

+Richard Laursen no i would call it genre - it comes under context

[@richardlaursen00]

mrbruff thanks, this helps a lot! :)

[@nikkybrown3592]

Great !

[@rxzafn7967]

There’s 10 ands not 11

[@jamesblunt4731]

*grey

[@theanti-christ2842]

U spelt "Greyish" wrong

[@mrbruff]

how did I spell it?

[@theanti-christ2842]

mrbruff Grayish. In my Anthology it says "Greyish"

[@mrbruff]

+kashem ali my copy of the poem says grayish with an 'a'

[@ravioligeorge3534]

lol

[@robaberahimi8304]

The Anti-Christ woahhh what happened there

[@libaanali5138]

i love u thank u

[@totalrandomness4543]

Last minute cramming with an hour to go until the exam so I'm watching on 1.5x speed because I don't have enough time left to relearn everything XD

[@calliegunzenhauser6234]

This guy sounds so much like James Corden haha it's so distracting!

[@mrbruff]

ha!

[@tobywestlake3059]

Callie Gunzenhauser he really doesn’t pal

[@24kings57]

@@mrbruff HA

[@trinichelz6783]

greatt

[@mrbruff]

thanks

[@ambrosiaaa9064]

Too bad I do power and conflict

[@mrbruff]

Check the playlists: I've done alll of the poems