To help you answer the essay question on this poem, you will need to understand what it is about:
- The poem in a nutshell
- A “translation” of the poem, section-by-section
- A commentary of each of these sections, outlining Hardy’s intention and message
‘He Never Expected Much’ in a nutshell
‘He Never Expected Much’ by Thomas Hardy is a poem published in 1928, after the poet’s death. It is written from the perspective of an old man who looks back on his life and the decisions he has made.
‘He Never Expected Much’ breakdown
Lines 1–4
“Well, World, you have kept faith with me,
Kept faith with me;
Upon the whole you have proved to be
Much as you said you were.”
Translation
- The speaker is talking to the world and declares that it has kept its promise
Hardy’s intention
- The speaker directly addresses the world, personifying it as if it were capable of keeping faith or breaking it:
- The technique of addressing something that is not alive is called apostrophe
- The phrase “kept faith with me” implies a sense of reliability on the part of the world and the technique of repeating the phrase immediately is also known as epizeuxis:
- The repetition of the phrase emphasises the speaker’s resignation that despite any hopes or expectations the speaker might have had, the world has simply remained true to its nature
- The line “much as you said you were” suggests that the world has lived up to its promises or descriptions and there’s a sense of acknowledgement that the world has not deceived the speaker:
- The world has been as it presented itself which could be seen as a validation of the world’s predictability
Lines 5–8
“Since as a child I used to lie
Upon the leaze and watch the sky,
Never, I own, expected I
That life would all be fair.”
Translation
- The speaker reminisces about his childhood
Hardy’s intention
- The imagery of the speaker being a child evokes a sense of innocence and simplicity associated with childhood
- Despite the idyllic setting of the speaker’s childhood, there’s an understanding, even during his childhood, that life would not be “fair”
- The tone of the poem is one of reflective realism, as the speaker looks back on their past with a mixture of nostalgia and acceptance of life’s disappointments
Lines 9–12
“‘Twas then you said, and since have said,
Times since have said,
In that mysterious voice you shed
From clouds and hills around:”
Translation
- The speaker claims that the world spoke to him as a child
Hardy’s intention
- The speaker personifies nature, attributing it the ability to speak through a “mysterious voice” emanating from “clouds and hills”:
- This suggests a close relationship between the speaker and the natural world
- The repetition of the phrase “since have said” underscores the significance of the message conveyed by nature:
- It suggests that this communication is not a one-time occurrence but rather a recurring episode, which indicates a pattern in the speaker’s interactions with the natural world
- The description of the voice as “mysterious” and the mention of “clouds and hills” as the sources of the mysterious voice reinforce the idea of nature as a powerful and omnipresent force:
- Clouds and hills are symbolic of the vastness and grandeur of the natural landscape, suggesting that the messages conveyed by nature were filled with significance and wisdom
Lines 13–16
“‘Many have loved me desperately,
Many with smooth serenity,
While some have shown contempt of me
Till they dropped underground.”
Translation
- The speaker recounts what the world said to him when he was a child
Hardy’s intention
- The world talks of people who “loved” it, and also those who have “shown contempt” of it:
- However, all of these people have inevitably become a part of the earth
- The last line of stanza two serves as a reminder that death is inevitable and no matter how people live, they will end up “underground” after they die
Lines 17–20
“‘I do not promise overmuch,
Child; overmuch;
Just neutral-tinted haps and such,’
You said to minds like mine.”
Translation
- The speaker concludes what the world said to him as a child
Hardy’s intention
- The phrase “I do not promise overmuch” implies a sense of moderation or caution in the assurances given by this higher power
- The use of the word “neutral-tinted” suggests a lack of vividness or intensity in the events that life may bring:
- This indicates an acceptance of life’s inherent uncertainties and the recognition that experiences may not always be extraordinary or remarkable
- The speaker’s acknowledgement of their own limitations, expressed through the phrase “minds like mine” suggests a sense of humility and realism:
- The speaker may recognise that they are not entitled to extravagant promises or assurances from the higher power
- Instead, they are subject to the same “neutral-tinted occurrences” as everyone else
Lines 21–24
“Wise warning for your credit’s sake!
Which I for one failed not to take,
And hence could stem such strain and ache
As each year might assign.”
Translation
- The speaker talks about whether he took the world’s advice or not
Hardy’s intention
- The speaker acknowledges the value of a “wise warning” recognising it as a beneficial piece of advice
- The phrase “which I for one failed not to take” indicates that the speaker personally heeded the warning
- The line “and hence could stem such strain and ache” suggests that listening to the world’s warning has enabled the speaker to endure the “strain and ache” of life’s challenges:
- This implies that the advice has equipped them with the resilience or coping mechanisms necessary to navigate difficult circumstances
- The phrase “as each year might assign” acknowledges the inevitability of facing various trials and tribulations each year:
- This suggests an acceptance of life’s unpredictability and the understanding that challenges are an inherent part of the human experience