Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Ah, Are You Digging on My Grave?" is a poem by Thomas Hardy, first published in 1914. It was written during a period of mourning for Hardy, following the death of his first wife, Emma. The poem is part of a collection entitled "Satires of Circumstance, Lyrics and Reveries," and is one of Hardy's most popular and widely anthologized works.

Content:

"Ah, Are You Digging on My Grave?" is a dramatic monologue in which the speaker, a deceased woman, asks a series of questions to someone who is digging on her grave. The poem explores the themes of mortality, the impermanence of human life, and the inevitability of death. The poem is notable for its use of humor and irony, as the speaker is more concerned with the disturbance of her grave than with her own death.

Form:

"Ah, Are You Digging on My Grave?" is a lyric poem composed of nine stanzas. The first eight stanzas consist of four lines each, while the final stanza consists of five lines. The poem has a regular rhyme scheme (ABCB), and the first and third lines of each stanza are written in iambic tetrameter, while the second and fourth lines are written in iambic trimeter. The poem's regular form and rhyme scheme reflect Hardy's interest in traditional poetic forms, while its use of meter gives it a musical quality.

Poetic Elements:

Hardy employs a range of poetic elements in "Ah, Are You Digging on My Grave?" to create a sense of irony and humor. The poem is marked by its use of vivid imagery, particularly in its evocation of the graveyard setting. Hardy also uses repetition to emphasize the themes of mortality and the impermanence of human life. Additionally, the poem is notable for its use of persona, as the speaker is a deceased woman who is addressing someone who is digging on her grave.

Summary:

"Ah, Are You Digging on My Grave?" is a powerful and poignant poem that explores the themes of mortality, the impermanence of human life, and the inevitability of death. The poem's use of irony and humor creates a sense of detachment from the somber themes it addresses. The poem is also notable for its use of vivid imagery, repetition, and persona to convey the speaker's feelings of anxiety and uncertainty about the afterlife. Overall, "Ah, Are You Digging on My Grave?" is a thought-provoking and memorable work that continues to resonate with readers today.

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