Ancestor Quote by Rebecca West
“one of Mr. [Thomas] Hardy's ancestors must have married a weeping willow. There are pages and pages in his collected poems which are simply plain narratives in ballad form of how an unenjoyable time was had by all.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: “The Unquiet Englishman,” 1935
She humorously links Hardy’s ancestry to a weeping willow, noting his poems often read like ballads about hardship.
In simple terms: Hardy’s poems are plain ballads of hardship.
Recognize the melancholy in literary ancestry.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- reading classic poetry
- studying literary influences
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- What does the weeping willow symbolize?
- How does humor affect perception of tragedy?
May simplify Hardy’s complex themes.