The Oxen by Thomas Hardy (1917)
The poem reflects on the nostalgia and innocence of childhood, particularly during Christmas Eve. It begins with a group of people gathered around a fire, observing the tradition of kneeling oxen, a symbol of humility and reverence. The speaker recalls how, in their youth, they believed in the magical image of the oxen kneeling in a barn, embodying the spirit of the season. As the speaker reminisces, there is a sense of longing for the simplicity and purity of those earlier times. The imagery evokes a pastoral scene, where the oxen are depicted as gentle and sacred creatures, reinforcing the connection between nature and spirituality. The speaker expresses a desire to return to that innocence, suggesting that such beliefs are rare in adulthood. The poem contrasts the innocence of childhood with the skepticism that often accompanies maturity. The speaker acknowledges that few would entertain such a fanciful notion in contemporary times, highlighting a loss of wonder. Despite this, there remains a flicker of hope that the magic of the past could be rekindled, as the speaker would still venture out to witness the oxen kneeling, even if it were merely a dream. Ultimately, the work captures the essence of nostalgia, the yearning for a time when faith and imagination were intertwined with the natural world, and the enduring hope that such moments can still exist, even in a more cynical age.
By Thomas Hardy · First published 1917 · Genre: Poetry, Religious, Romanticism · 161 words
First lines
CHRISTMAS EVE, and twelve of the clock. / "Now they are all on their knees," / An elder said as we sat in a flock / By the embers in hearthside ease.
We pictured the meek mild creatures where / They dwelt in their strawy pen, / Nor did it occur to one of us there / To doubt they were kneeling then.
So fair a fancy few would weave / In these years! Yet, I feel, / If someone said on Christmas Eve, / "Come; see the oxen kneel
"In the lonely barton by yonder coomb / Our childhood used to know," / I should go with him in the gloom, / Hoping it might be so.
What this Textopian page supports
The Oxen is listed on Textopian as a poem by Thomas Hardy, dated 1917 CE.
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- Work type: Poem
- Author: Thomas Hardy
- Date: 1917 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Religious, Romanticism, Literary Fiction, Historical
- Length: 161 words
- Structure: 1 section, 4 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
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Genres
- Poetry — The work is a poem that employs lyrical language and structure, focusing on themes of nostalgia and faith.
- Religious — The poem reflects on Christmas and the spiritual significance of the nativity, invoking religious imagery.
- Romanticism — The themes of nature, emotion, and idealized memories align with Romantic literary characteristics.
- Literary Fiction — The poem explores deep themes and human experiences, typical of literary fiction.
Tags
rural · poetry · nostalgia · tradition · nature · pastoral · countryside · religion · myth · symbolism · loss · memory