Hardy’s Narrativa Style

Prepared by Khuman Bhagirath Paper Thomas Hardy as a NovelistRoll No. 02Class M.A. Sem-IVYear 2012/13

The Mayor of Casterbridge

Tess of the D’Urbervilles

The Return of the Native

Three

Novels

:

The

Mayor

of Caster

bridge“Now I am not the man to let a cause be lost for want of a word. And before ye are gone for ever I'll speak. Once more, will ye stay? There it is, flat and plain. You can see that it isn't all selfishness that makes me press 'ee; for my business is not quite so scientific as to require an intellect entirely out of the common.” -Henchard

The

Mayor

of Caster

bridge

Blunt Character

Countrified Expression

Impulsive

The

Mayor

of Caster

bridgeDialogues -Reflection of Characters’ Social Position and Their Personality

The

Mayor

of Caster

bridgeHardy’s Fondness for Gothic Atmosphere

The

Mayor

of Caster

bridgeSubtitle:“The Life and Death of a Man of Character”

The

Mayor

of Caster

bridge

Fatalistic

Tess of

the

D’Urbe

rvilles“There was a great stir in the milk-house just after breakfast. The churn revolved as usual, but the butter would not come. Whenever this happened the dairy was paralyzed. Squish, squash, echoed the milk in the great cylinder, but never arose the sound they waited for.” (21.1) 

Short Sentences

Use of Everyday Words

Tess of

the

D’Urbe

rvilles

To the Point

Tess of

the

D’Urbe

rvilles“Their gauzy skirts had brushed up from the grass innumerable flies and butterflies which, unable to escape, remained caged in the transparent tissue as in an aviary. Angel's eye at last fell upon Tess, the hindmost of the four; she, being full of suppressed laughter at their dilemma, could not help meeting his glance radiantly.”(23.14)

Sophisticated Words

Longer and More Complex Passages

Tess of

the

D’Urbe

rvilles

The

Return

of the

Native"O – Tamsie," said the elder, weeping, "I don't like to let you go."

"I – I – am –." Thomasin began, giving way likewise. But quelling her grief, she said, "Good-bye!" again and went on.

Then Mrs. Yeobright saw a little figure wending its way between the scratching furze-bushes, and diminishing far up the valley – a pale-blue spot in a vast field of neutral brown, solitary and undefended except by the power of her own hope.

But the worst feature in the case was one which did not appear in the landscape; it was the man. (2.8.44-46)

Realism

Description of Nature

Strong Imagery

Visual NovelThe

Return

of the

Native

The

Return

of the

Native"And I have no money to go alone! And if I could, what comfort to me? I must drag on next year, as I have dragged on this year, and the year after that as before. How I have tried to be a splendid woman, and how destiny has been against me!" (5.7.20)

Mini-climaxes

Each Chapter = Individual Scene

Quick Scene Break

Monologues andSoliloquies

The

Return

of the

Native

Theatrical and Dramatic

The

Return

of the

Native

The

Return

of the

Native“Minute after minute passed by, perhaps ten minute passed, and the shadow on the moon perceptibly widened. He heard a rustling on his left hand, a cloaked figure with an upturned face appeared at the base of the Barrow, and Clym descended. In a moment the figure was in his arms, and his lips upon hers.”

"My Eustacia!" (3.4.5-6)

Suspenseful

The

Return

of the

Native