Neutral Tones MCQs and Summary

By: Prof. Dr. Fazal Rehman | Last updated: June 10, 2025

Summary:

Thomas Hardy’s Neutral Tones is a melancholic poem about lost love and emotional detachment. The poem describes a painful memory of a breakup, set in a bleak, lifeless winter landscape. The speaker recalls standing with their lover beside a stagnant pond, surrounded by dead leaves, under a pale sun. The imagery of the setting reflects the emotional emptiness of the relationship. As the poem progresses, the speaker reflects on how this experience shaped their understanding of love, leaving them cynical and disillusioned. The poem explores themes of love, memory, loss, and the emotional toll of heartbreak, with a tone of sadness and resignation.

Neutral Tones
Neutral Tones
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1. : Who is the poet of Neutral Tones?



2. : What is the main theme of the poem?



3. : What season is described in the poem?



4. : Where does the poem’s scene take place?



5. : What do the “neutral tones” in the title symbolize?



6. : How does the speaker feel about love at the end of the poem?



7. : What literary device is used in the description of the sun as “white as though chidden of God”?



8. : What does the “smile on your mouth was the deadest thing” suggest?



9. : What effect does nature have on the speaker’s emotions?



10. : What is the tone of the poem?



 

Question Answer
Poem Name Neutral Tones
Poet Thomas Hardy
Year Published 1898
Poem Type Lyric poem
Verse Form Four quatrains with ABBA rhyme scheme
Main Subject A painful memory of lost love
Themes Love and loss, memory, emotional detachment
Tone Melancholic, bitter, resigned
Poetic Devices Used Imagery, symbolism, simile, personification
Symbolism The lifeless landscape reflects the end of love
Historical Context Reflects Hardy’s pessimistic view on relationships
Main Message Love can leave one disillusioned and emotionally drained

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