Poetry Analysis of Thomas Hardy's "The Oxen"
The English poet Thomas Hardy wrote a seemingly simple piece titled "The Oxen" in 1915, as the industrialized slaughter of World War I raged throughout the European continent. Although the light tone and themes of holiday reverence and religious worship which are present throughout "The Oxen" suggest a sense of innocence, the poem actually represents the futile yearnings of a jaded old man in his seventy-fifth year, one who has long since abandoned the faith of his childhood despite a lingering affection for religious teachings. To understand the true meaning of "The Oxen," it is important to begin with an examination of its author's life and circumstances at the time it was written. As a young man, Hardy had aspired to a career as a priest working within the church which was so beloved during his childhood, but his educational experiences as a young man led him to forego this earlier recognition of faith in favor of the empirical scientific study so popular during his era. Despite his better judgment, however, Hardy maintained a natural affinity for certain tenets and beliefs which were espoused to him during his youth, and "The Oxen" was written during a moment of reminiscence and nostalgia, as Hardy fondly remembered his innocent belief in religious teachings.
The first stanza of the poem is used by Hardy to establish the metaphorical setting he intends to expand upon in subsequent stanzas. When Hardy writes "Christmas Eve, and twelve of the clock./'Now they are all on their...
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