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The Ruined Maid. By Thomas Hardy. A sample presentation by Mrs. Takemoto for Senior English Students. Thomas Hardy. Victorian era poet (1840-1928) Born in England Married, Emma, who preceded him in death despite his ill health, remarried No children
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The Ruined Maid By Thomas Hardy A sample presentation by Mrs. Takemoto for Senior English Students
Thomas Hardy • Victorian era poet (1840-1928) • Born in England • Married, Emma, who preceded him in death despite his ill health, remarried • No children • Earned Gold medal from Royal Soc. Of Literature • Writes about the ironies in Victorian Morality and pain in the human experience
Literary Techniques in The Ruined Maid • Irony – The woman who is “ruined” by prostitution is living the better life. • Nice clothes • Freedom to be in town • Better diction/vocabulary • Smoother skin • Feathers and gown
Literary Techniques (Cont.) • Poem utilizes “dialogue” to uncover its meaning • “Ruined” maid – Melia – is being spoken to by the “raw country girl” who remains unnamed throughout the poem • Pun – play on words – in the name “’Melia” which could be associated with the word “ameliorate” which means to improve or make better
Rhyme Scheme • The poet has used the following rhyme scheme: aabb, ccdd, etc. • Shown by the words (crown and town; prosperi – tee and she; socks and docks, etc.)
Assonance & Alliteration • Use of related vowels sounds within lines: • Spudding up; thik oon, theas oon, and t’other • Use of same initial consonants in the words: • Shoes/socks; Blue/bleak; bracelets/bright
Theme • The poet exposes the hypocrisy in Victorian society as shown in the following information: • Morality – the “ruined” maid has chosen an equality difficult but unacceptable occupation making her “unmarriageable” in Victorian society • Social Position – although “ruined” in society, the prostitute enjoys less physical labor and many materialistic benefits as well
Maya Angelou • Her Poem “Still I Rise” contains a similar sentiment written about oppression but which also pertains to women: Does my sexiness upset you?Does it come as a surpriseThat I dance like I've got diamondsAt the meeting of my thighs?
Bibliography • http://www.online-literature.com/hardy/ • Various Googled images (Hardy, Maid) • http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20081003055044AAhsqTE • www.animoto.com