At the Entering of the New Year by Thomas Hardy

Name: At the Entering of the New Year
Author: Thomas Hardy

The work explores the transition from the old year to the new, contrasting the celebratory spirit of the past with a more somber reflection on the present and future. The first section captures a festive atmosphere, where songs and music resonate through the night, engaging the community and evoking a sense of joy and hope. The imagery of rural life and the connection to nature highlight a collective experience of celebration, as the sounds of merriment reach far and wide, touching the lives of those who are working or wandering at night. In the second section, the tone shifts dramatically. The speaker stands in a more introspective setting, contemplating the arrival of the new year with a sense of trepidation. The personification of the new year as a "mystic one" suggests an unknown future that is both alluring and daunting. The plea to the new year to stay away reflects a desire to avoid confronting the uncertainties and challenges that lie ahead. The speaker expresses a reluctance to engage with the new year, indicating a preference for the comfort of the past. Overall, the work juxtaposes the exuberance of celebration with the anxiety of change, illustrating the complex emotions that accompany the passage of time. The interplay between joy and apprehension serves as a meditation on the human condition, emphasizing the tension between hope and fear as individuals face the unknown. The duality of the experience—celebration versus contemplation—captures the essence of the new year's transition, inviting readers to reflect on their own feelings about the passage of time and the inevitability of change.

By Thomas Hardy · First published 1912 · Genre: Poetry, Lyric Poetry, Philosophical Literature · 346 words

First lines

I. (OLD STYLE)

OUR songs went up and out the chimney, / And roused the home-gone husbandmen; / Our allemands, our heys, poussettings, / Our hands-across and back again, / Sent rhythmic throbbings through the casements / On to the white highway, / Where nighted farers paused and muttered, / "Keep it up well, do they!"

The contrabasso's measured booming / Sped at each bar to the parish bounds, / To shepherds at their midnight lambings, / To stealthy poachers on their rounds; / And everybody caught full duly / The notes of our delight, / As Time unrobed the Youth of Promise / Hailed by our sanguine sight.

II. (NEW STYLE)

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At the Entering of the New Year is listed on Textopian as a poem by Thomas Hardy, dated 1912 CE.

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Work type: Poem
Author: Thomas Hardy
Date: 1912 CE
Language: English
Genres: Poetry, Lyric Poetry, Philosophical Literature, Nature Writing, Romanticism
Length: 346 words
Structure: 1 section, 6 paragraphs
Reading fit: Fairly Difficult (10th-12th Grade)

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Work identity for At the Entering of the New Year by Thomas Hardy
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Genres

Poetry — The work is written in verse, employing rhythmic and lyrical language typical of poetry.
Lyric Poetry — The poem expresses personal emotions and reflections on time and change, characteristic of lyric poetry.
Philosophical Literature — The themes explore existential questions about time, youth, and the human condition.
Nature Writing — The imagery of nature, such as pine trees and the night, plays a significant role in the poem.