The poet Thomas Hardy thinks that he will
depart from this world after his uncertain existence. He imagines that the month of May will be decorated with natural beauty. He wonders if his neighbours will remember that he was the man who loved to observe the beauties of nature. In the twilight a hawk wet with dew descends upon the thorny bush growing on a hill. It is a very attractive sight, and an on-looker, neeting it, will think that it was a familiar sight to the poet during his life time. On a summer night full of moths, hedgehogs will move aimlessly in the grassy ground in search of moths which hedgehogs eat. Someone who will see this sight will comment that the poet could protect the harmless animals a little, he could not do it now because he is dead. When the news of the poet’s death is broken, people known to the poet, will come out their houses and notice the mysterious beauty of nature at night, standing at the doors, and they will comment that the poet used to observe the mysterious beauties of nature. People will hear the death-bell of the poet in the darknes of night. The sound of the bell is interrupted by the crossing breeze. People will then remember that Thomas Hardy used to hear this deep, hollow sound when he was alive.
Give the substance of the poem, Afterwards.
Ans. The poet Thomas Hardy thinks that he will depart from this world after his uncertain existence. He imagines that the month of May will be decorated with natural beauty. He wonders if his neighbours will remember that he was the man who loved to observe the beauties of nature. In the twilight a hawk wet with dew descends upon the thorny bush growing on a hill. It is a very attractive sight, and an on-looker, neeting it, will think that it was a familiar sight to the poet during his life time. On a summer night full of moths, hedgehogs will move aimlessly in the grassy ground in search of moths which hedgehogs eat. Someone who will see this sight will comment that the poet could protect the harmless animals a little, he could not do it now because he is dead. When the news of the poet’s death is broken, people known to the poet, will come out their houses and notice the mysterious beauty of nature at night, standing at the doors, and they will comment that the poet used to observe the mysterious beauties of nature. People will hear the death-bell of the poet in the darknes of night. The sound of the bell is interrupted by the crossing breeze. People will then remember that Thomas Hardy used to hear this deep, hollow sound when he was alive.
a) Explain the expression “noctural blackness” and “mothy and warm”. b) How does hedgehog travel and why?
Ans. a) Here the expression “noctural blackness” refers to the Ch deep darkness of night and “mothy and warm” means the night being infested with moths and the night being hot.
b) The hedgehog is a harmless, mild animal. If wanders at night in the grassy field inside the forest in search of moth which it eats.
I have been stilled at last, they stand at the door.” a) Who is the speaker? What is the meaning of “stilled”? b) Who are “they”? Why do they stand e of een at the door?
tion the Ans. a) Thomas Hardy is the speaker in his poem entitled “Afterwards”. The word “stilled” means dead. The poet is dead and gone.
b) They are the poet’s neighbours here. When the news of the poet’s death will spread and his neighbours will hear it, gs they will come out of their houses and remaind standing at the doors. They will observe the mysterious beauty of the sky studded with stars at night. Then they may think that when the in poet was alive, he had observed such scenes of mysteriou and beauty and could appreciate it.