HARDY FORUM ARCHIVE HO2083 12/4/02 "DECEMBER 2002 NOTES AND QUERIES" ====================================================================== From: "erb" Subject: Roman Numerals Date: Wed, 4 Dec 2002 15:06:04 -0000 Coming across these in the poems I often am inclined to puzzle over their exact purpose, particularly when in a not unduly long poem there is no obvious episodic sequence in the stanzas. A case I find especially interesting is the poem 'The Place On The Map' where it seems to me nothing of substance was added by numbering unless Hardy felt it bestowed extra dramatic emphasis, seriousness even. Yet he does not use it in 'Wessex Heights'; an equally dramatic poem. 'Beeny Cliff' on the other hand divides nicely into episodes. the numbering of which seems to amplify the notion of the march of Time in each pictured event. Perhaps I am looking too seriously for significance in what is really just a decorative device? ========== From: "schweik" Subject: Re: Roman Numerals Date: Wed, 04 Dec 2002 20:55:58 GMT "ERB"--I wish I knew who he or she was--raises one of those apparently innocent questions that can turn out to have a trenchant character. The numbers *do* seem to have no obvious rationale, both in themselves and considered with Hardy's practice in other poems. But what about elements in Hardy's poetry and prose that are just a little bit less wholly ambiguous? "ERB"'s inquiry raises questions about the importance to critics of using such elements as "evidence" for this or that point about Hardy's writings when what is also needed is a frank willingness to attempt to characterize the perceived degree of probability that "evidence" carries for the critical points being made. More of that kind of frankness would, I think, be welcome. I should add, by the way, that my comments do *not* refer to postings to the TTHA Forum. Rather, they come from a reviewer of recent books on Hardy. Bob Schweik Robert Schweik schweik@fredonia.edu schweikr@localnet.com ========== Date: Tue, 24 Dec 2002 07:47:52 -0800 From: Betty Cortus Subject: Greetings Dear Friends, Wishing you all a joyous and festive holiday season. For the nonce I'm sending you a typical Hardy Poem, "Yuletide in a Younger World", a wistful reflection on a simpler and more innocent past. With Best Wishes to All, Betty We believed in highdays then, And could glimpse at night On Christmas Eve Eminent oncomings of radiant revel - Doings of delight: - Now we have no such sight. We had eyes for phantoms then, And a bridge or stile On Christmas eve Clear beheld those countless ones who had crossed it Cross again in file: - Such has ceased longwhile! We liked divination then, And, as they homeward wound On Christmas Eve, We could read men's dreams within them spinning Even as wheels spin round: - Now we are blinker-bound. We heard still small voices then, And in the dim serene Of Christmas Eve, Caught the far-time tones of fire-filled prophets Long on earth unseen. . . . - Can such ever have been? ========== From: "XiaoHui" Subject: Merry X-mas and a Happy New Year Date: Fri, 27 Dec 2002 00:01:57 +0800 Dear Betty: My name is 肖辉， you may just call me Chris Shaw, I choose Shaw as my surname in English, because it sounds similar to that pronuounce of the corresponding character in Chinese 肖（辉）. I am in my second year of postgraduate study in a Chinese University. I will graduate in July, 2004. I found the literary teaching and research in China at present had no real academic depth. Tutors and their students mostly just aim at one purpose that is to get passed in the final thesis defense of their M.A. degree. So, I am greatly disappointed and fonfused what to do, I have read Hardy's Tess, Jude, Return of Native, and Mayor of Casterbridge. I found that I like him. I will have to submit my desertation proposal in March, 2003. I hope that I could gain some help from the forum. Thank you very much to send that poem to me, I have not read any of his poems before. Yours, 肖辉 ========== Date: Thu, 26 Dec 2002 10:11:40 -0800 From: Betty Cortus Subject: Re: Merry X-mas and a Happy New Year Dear Chris Shaw, Welcome to the HARDY Forum! I am sure that our members will be happy to answer any questions you have. The Thomas Hardy Association also offers a wealth of research opportunities, both free on its website, and even more so on its "Members Only" section. Good luck with your studies, and in spite of the difficulties you may encounter, we wish you every success. Best Regards Betty Cortus hardycor@owl.csusm.edu ===========