Victorian Poetry · English Literature

Thomas Hardy's poem 'The Darkling Thrush' was written to mark which historical transition?

  1. The end of the Napoleonic Wars
  2. The Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria
  3. The end of the 19th century
  4. The outbreak of World War I
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Correct answer: The end of the 19th century

Dated December 31, 1900, the poem serves as an elegy for the passing century. The 'spectre-gray' landscape and the frail bird's song reflect Hardy's characteristic blend of bleakness and cautious hope.

Difficulty: Medium Question 18 of 20

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