Literary Device

The literary device that I decided to focus on was Tragedy. The definition of tragedy is: a story in which a heroic character either dies or comes to some other unhappy end. Tragedy is apparent all throughout Tess of the d'Urbervilles.

The first instance of tragedy that we read about is when Tess' family horse is killed. Tess feels she is responsible, and this feeling drives her to take up a position as an animal care taker for Alec d'Urberville. Alec is very attracted to Tess and on many occasions expresses this to her. Tess sets her boundaries as well as she knows how to however, not strongly enough. One night she falls asleep in a field, on her way home from the city, and Alec takes advantage of her. Tess leaves her position to return home where she gives birth to a son, who dies a few weeks later. Both of these things are great tragedies that continue to haunt Tess throughout the book.

Tess goes to work on a dairy farm where she falls in love with a man named Angel Clare. Tess knows she will have to tell him of her marred past at some point. Whenever Tess attempts to tell Angel he cuts her off and says, "tell me later." Because of this Tess does not get a chance to tell Angel until their "confession session" while they are on their honeymoon. Angel tells Tess that he once had an "affair," and she readily forgives him. Then when Tess tells Angel of how she was raped he cannot forgive her. Because of this, tragedy ensues, and Angel leaves to Brazil for about a year and a half. During this time Tess is re-acquainted with Alec, and because of Angel's lack of response to her letters and Alec's persistent nagging, Tess returns to Alec.

Shortly after she is re-united with Alec, Angel comes back to find Tess and to tell her that he is now able to forgive her, and he finds that she has returned to Alec. Tess feels anger towards Alec for his knifing ways and so she murders him. It becomes apparent that tragedy is going to continue when Angel and Tess reunite and run from the law. Tess is found in Stone Henge and executed. Tragedy was an extremely prominent theme and literary device used in this book.

Pictures

I picked a few pictures that I feel express the tone of the book and describe the characters.

What I Learned From Reading Tess

I learned many things from these book groups. I learned from my book and from the work involved in this assignment. I really enjoyed the book group environment. I enjoyed discussing the book, and learned a lot about communication. I also learned more about my book because of the different insights that my group members had. It allowed me to see the story in different points of view. On top of the learning that took place in my actual book group, I was able to learn different things from the book Tess of the d'Urbervilles. I learned all sorts of things about 18th century England, the vernacular of the time in certain places, the culture of the people, what the different classes of society were like, the type of work that was done, and about people's morals.

Quotes from Tess of the d'Urbervilles

These are quotes that I feel particularly express the significance of the novel.

1. "Thus, the thing began. Had she perceived this meeting's import she might have asked why she was doomed to be seen and coveted that day by the wrong man, and not by some other man, the right and desired one in all respects..." Chapter 5

2. "Remember, my lady, I was your master once! I will be your master again. If you are any man's wife you are mine!" -Alec d'Urberville, Chapter 47

About the Author

Thomas Hardy was born on June 2, 1840 in Higher Bockhampton, Dorset. He was a "frail" child and because of this he was not able to start school until he was eight years old. He was interested in architecture and when he was sixteen James Hicks took him on as an apprentice. "In 1870 Hardy was sent to plan a church restoration at St. Juliot in Cornwall. There he met Emma Gifford and she encouraged his writing. They were married in 1874. Most of the books he wrote incorporated real places where he grew up. One of these places was the school house where he attended school. Another novel of his mirrored his courtship with his wife. His wife died in 1912, and in 1914 Hardy remarried his secretary, Florence Dugdale. He wrote some of his best poetry while grieving for his wife. Thomas Hardy died on January 11, 1928, in his home Max Gate which he had designed.

http://www.britainexpress.com/History/bio/hardy.htm