Under the Greenwood Tree by Thomas Hardy

Under the Greenwood Tree is a romantic tale by Thomas Hardy that explores the blossoming love between Fancy and Dick Dewy amidst the challenges of village life and societal expectations. Their relationship deepens through shared moments of warmth and laughter, ultimately proving resilient against external disapproval as they envision a hopeful future together.

By Thomas Hardy · First published 1872 · Genre: Fiction, Romance, Pastoral · 30 chapters · 71,125 words

First lines

To dwellers in a wood almost every species of tree has its voice as well as its feature. At the passing of the breeze the fir-trees sob and moan no less distinctly than they rock; the holly whistles as it battles with itself; the ash hisses amid its quiverings; the beech rustles while its flat boughs rise and fall. And winter, which modifies the note of such trees as shed their leaves, does not destroy its individuality.

• Open reader

What this Textopian page supports

Under the Greenwood Tree is listed on Textopian as a novel by Thomas Hardy, dated 1872 CE.

This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.

• Work type: Novel
• Author: Thomas Hardy
• Date: 1872 CE
• Language: English
• Genres: Fiction, Romance, Pastoral, Social Commentary, Literary Fiction
• Length: 71,125 words
• Structure: 30 chapters, 1,512 paragraphs
• Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)

Good citation fit

• Work identity for Under the Greenwood Tree 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

Similar titles

• At The Drapers by Thomas Hardy
• The Greenwood Tree by Grant Allen
• The Years Awakening by Thomas Hardy
• The Broom Squire by Sabine Baring Gould
• The Singing Of The Bees by Gilbert Parker
• The Children by Gilbert Parker

Genres

• Fiction — The novel is a work of fiction that explores the lives and relationships of its characters.
• Romance — Central to the plot are romantic relationships, particularly the courtship between the main characters.
• Pastoral — The setting in a rural village and the depiction of nature reflect pastoral themes.
• Social Commentary — The book critiques social norms and class structures of the time.

Tags

rural · romance · Victorian · social class · nature · love · coming of age · community · pastoral · tradition · conflict · identity

Contents

• Mellstock-Lane
• The Tranter'S
• The Assembled Quire
• Going the Rounds
• The Listeners
• Christmas Morning
• The Tranter's Party
• They Dance more Wildly
• Dick Calls at the School
• Passing by the School
• A Meeting of the Quire
• A Turn in the Discussion
• The Interview with the Vicar
• Returning Home Ward
• Yalbury Wood and the Keeper's House
• Dick Makes himself Useful
• Dick Meets his Father
• Driving out of Budmouth
• Further Along the Road
• A Confession
• An Arrangement
• Going Nutting
• Honey-Taking, and Afterwards
• Fancy in the Rain
• The Spell
• After Gaining her Point
• Into Temptation
• Second Thoughts
• 'the Knot there's no Untying'
• Under the Greenwood Tree

More by Thomas Hardy

• The Superstitious Man's Story (1891)
• The Withered Arm (1888)
• The Woodlanders (1887)
• A Pair of Blue Eyes (1870)
• Far from the Madding Crowd (1874)
• Jude the Obscure (1895)
• Tess of the D'Urbervilles (1891)
• The Mayor of Casterbridge (1889)
• All works by Thomas Hardy