The Face at the Casement
A man reflects on a May evening when he and his companion visit a sick man who wishes to marry her. The visit is intended to offer comfort, but as they leave, the narrator turns and sees the dying man watching them from a window. In a moment of spiteful impulse, he embraces the woman to provoke the dying man’s jealousy. This act fills him with shame and self-loathing, as he realizes the cruelty of his actions. The narrative explores themes of love, jealousy, and the moral complexities of human relationships. The man’s internal conflict reveals the darker side of love, contrasting its beauty with its potential for cruelty. The story concludes with a reflection on the enduring pain caused by such actions, suggesting that love can be both a source of joy and deep sorrow.
By Thomas Hardy · First published 1928 · Genre: Poetry, Romanticism, Tragedy · 556 words
First lines
IF ever joy leave An abiding sting of sorrow, So befell it on the morrow Of that May eve . . .
The travelled sun dropped To the north-west, low and lower, The pony's trot grew slower, And then we stopped.
What this Textopian page supports
The Face at the Casement is listed on Textopian as a poem by Thomas Hardy, dated 1928 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Thomas Hardy
- Date: 1928 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Romanticism, Tragedy, Literary Fiction, Victorian Literature
- Length: 556 words
- Structure: 1 section, 16 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Face at the Casement by Thomas Hardy
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering The Face at the Casement?
- How does this poem by Thomas Hardy fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Poetry first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- In The Moonlight by Thomas Hardy
- The Dawn After The Dance by Thomas Hardy
- The Voice by Thomas Hardy
- To Carrey Clavel by Thomas Hardy
- Regret Not Me by Thomas Hardy
- Had You Wept by Thomas Hardy
Genres
- Poetry — The work is written in verse, employing rhythm and meter, characteristic of poetry.
- Romanticism — Themes of love, longing, and emotional conflict are central, aligning with Romantic literary ideals.
- Tragedy — The narrative explores themes of loss, guilt, and the consequences of actions, typical of tragic literature.
- Literary Fiction — The focus on character development and emotional depth places it within the literary fiction genre.
Tags
love · loss · regret · nostalgia · memory · longing · identity · relationships · nature · isolation · time · change