What inspired thomas hardy to write the poem when i set out for lyonnesse?
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HOMEWORK HELP > THOMAS HARDY
Please provide a summary of the poem "When I Set Out for Lyonnesse" by Thomas Hardy.
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CAROL-DAVIS eNotes educator| CERTIFIED EDUCATOR
Summary: The poem comes from Hardy's memory of a these three days in his life. Although nothing is mentioned in the poem about any of this, it is obvious that the poet is quite excited and happy about his trip.
Though Lyonnesse is a mythological lost land, beginning with these lines, the poem appears to take the reader on a trip:
When I set out for Lyonnesse,
A hundred miles away...
The reader learns that the trip will cover about 100 miles by train. Initially, the poetic speaker was lonely, probably dreading his time away from home and his comforts. On the other hand, no fortune teller or magician could have foretold what would happen while he was there. The speaker can hardly believe what occurred himself.
Nor did the wisest wizard guess
What would bechance at Lyonnesse
While I should sojourn there.
Never telling what did transpire, the reader is fully aware that this was a grand event in the poetic speaker's life. However, he does not explain himself. Note that Lyonnesse is mentioned twice in every stanza. This promotes the idea of the time he spent on this trip was more than real, possibly heavenly.
To the poetic speaker, his trip to Lyonnesse put a twinkle in his eyes and magic in his heart.
Background: When reading a Thomas Hardy poem, it is always helpful to find out what is happening in his personal life when the poem was written. Many of Hardy's poems recall some event in his life; often, it specifically refers to his relationships. This poem "When I Set Out for Lyonnesse" refers to an actual occurrence which changed Hardy's life forever.
Keep this is a brain list answer........
Answer:
The poet set out for Lyonnesse to supervise renovation work of a church. He writes the poem to celebrate his successful attempt.