Comparison Between the Poems When We Two Parted and Neutral Tones

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Furthermore, the writers’ uses of form also vary to present the breakdown of a relationship in different manners. Firstly, the writers’ stanza length contrast with “Neutral Tones” featuring simple, four line stanzas whereas “When We Two Parted” has more complex eight line stanzas. One thing that the simple four line stanzas in “Neutral Tones” may suggest is the simplicity of the reason for the couple’s breakup: that they have simply fallen out of love. The more elaborate eight line stanzas in “When We Two Parted” may suggest a more complex reason behind the breakup; this may be something to do with social hierarchy or possible due to the relationship possibly being an affair. Secondly, Thomas Hardy uses breakdowns in syntax to reflect the muddled and unnatural nature of the romance: “On which lost the more by our love.” As one can see, this line simply does not make sense and another way this may be interpreted is that Hardy has just totally given up on the relationship and does not care enough to write coherent lines anymore. Another place where Hardy’s lack of effort in writing can be observed is in line nine with the words: “The smile on your mouth was the deadest thing...” In this case, it would only make sense for Hardy to include a metaphor but it appears as though he just cannot be bothered anymore.

Finally, the two writers use imagery and words with contrasting themes; Lord Byron uses lots of passionate wording and imagery whereas Hardy uses sullen and bland imagery. For example, in the first stanza of “Neutral Tones”, Hardy uses a lexical set of words which reflect infertility: “starving, fallen, ash, grey.” These words coupled with the winter setting and the fact that everything seems to be infertile or dead reflects the state of their relationship. An alternative way in which this may be interpreted is as implying that everything else is dying, for example: “few leaves lay on the floor”, so the death or breakdown of their relationship is inevitable. On the other hand, in the final stanza of the Byron poem, there is a lexical set of words to do with emotion: “grieve, heart, spirit, tears.” The use of this set of words may have been used to show that although the couple have parted ways, there is still something there even after the breakup.

In conclusion, both of these poems describe a breakdown of a relationship. Both of the writers utilise form, structure, setting and imagery to convey their intended messages, themes and meanings. Some of the features of the poems are very similar as both poems are conveying the breakup of a couple however; some features contrast each other due to differences in the scenarios of the relationships and reasoning behind the breakup.