Critic Richard Carpenter says, "Far From the Madding Crowd developes...the vividly realized setting of field and farm without the grim majesty of Egdon Heath (in Return of the Native)." Choose a descriptive passage of "field and farm" from the first 75 pages and post it to this blog as a comment. Then comment on each others posts.
Be sure to check the posts from Return of the Native as their setting differs from yours greatly. This should give you a well-rounded sense of Hardy's treatment of setting.
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pg. 46. "The road stretched through water-meadows traversed by little brooks, whose quivering surfaces were braided along their centres, and folded into creases at the sides; or, where the flow was more rapid, the stream was pied with spots of white froth, which rode on in undisturbed serenity. On the higher levels the dead and dry carcases of leaves tapped the ground as they bowled along helter-skelter upon the shoulders of the wind, and little birds in the hedges were rustling their feathers and tucking themselves in comfortably for the night, retaining their places if Oak kept moving, but flying away if he stopped to look at them. He passed by Yalbury Wood where the game-birds were rising to their roosts, and heard the crack-voiced cock-`pheasants' "cu-uck, cuck," and the wheezy whistle of the hens."
Page 15
"Between this half-wooded half-naked hill, and the vague still horizon that its summit indistinctly commanded, was a mysterious sheet of fathomless shade-the sounds from which suggested that what it concealed bore some reduced resemblance to features here. The thin grasses, more or less coating the hill, were touched by the wind in breezes of differing powers, and almost of differing natures-one rubbing the blades heavily, an-other raking them piercingly, another brushing them like a soft broom. the instinctive act of humankind was to stand and listen, and learn how the trees on the right and the trees on the left wailed or chaunted to each other in the regular antiphonies of cathedral choir; how hedges and other shapes to leeward then caught the note, lowering it to the tenderest sob; and how the hurrying gust then plunged into the south, to be heard no more."
I really like the passage that hcutting picked out. I see two meaning from the water and the wind. I can see it as the water and wind, but my first thought is the way the fields wave like the water and I can picture the winds blowing through the fields.
" The thin grasses, more or less coating the hill, were touched by the wind in breezes of differing powers, and almost of differing natures-one rubbing the blades heavily, an-other raking them piercingly, another brushing them like a soft broom. the instinctive act of humankind was to stand and listen, and learn how the trees on the right and the trees on the left wailed or chaunted to each other in the regular antiphonies of cathedral choir; how hedges and other shapes to leeward then caught the note, lowering it to the tenderest sob; and how the hurrying gust then plunged into the south, to be heard no more." (p15)
This seems awefully familiar to the quote i found for this in return of the native...both exposing rural life? Why is wind so important to Hardy???
"It might reasonably supposed that she was listening to the wind, which rose somewhat at the night advanced, and laid hold of the attention. The wind, indeed, seemed made fore the scene, as the scene heard there could be heard nowhere else. Gusts in innumerable series followed each other from the north-west...Treble, tenor, and bass notes were to be found therin. The general richochet of the whole over pits and prominences had the gravest pitch of the chime. Next there could be heard the baritone buzz of a holly tree. Below these in force, above them in pitch, a dwindled voice strove hard at a husky tune, which was the peculiar local sound alluded to...Yet-scarcel a single accent among the many afloat to-night could have such power to impress a listener with thoughts of its origin."(p.39-40)
On page 15, "the hill was covered on its northern side by ancient and decaying plantation of beeches, whose upper verge formed a line over the crest, fringeing its arched curve against the sky, like a mane." This continues on to the top of page 16. This passage gives details about the woods, sky and all the nature around Gabriel Oak. When he is out at night in his field, it talks a lot about the stars and night sky.
pg. 19 "The Dog-star and Aldebaran, pointing to the restless Pleiades, were half-way up the Southern sky, and between the hung Orien, which gorgeous constellation never burnt more vividly than now as it soured forth above the rim of the landscape. Castor and Pollux with their quiet shine were almost on the meridian: the barren and gloomy Square of Pegasus was creeping roundto the north-west;far away through the plantation Vega sparkled like a lamp suspended amid the leafless trees, and Cassiopia's chair stood daintily poised on the uppermost boughs."
"Not a single bleat. He went to the hedge; a gap had been broken through it, and in the gap were the footprints of the sheep. Rather surprised to find them break fence at this season, yet putting it down instantly to their great fondness for ivy in wintertime, of which a freat deal grew in the plantation, he followed through the hedge. They were not in the plantation. He called again: the valleys and furthest hills resounded as when the sailors invoked the lost Hylas on the Mysian shore; but no sheep. He passed through the trees and along the ridge of the hill. On the extreme summit, where the ends of the two converging hedges of which we have spoken were stopped short by meeting the brow of the chalkpit, he saw the younger dog standing against the sky-- dark and motionless as Napoleon at St. Helena." (p.42)
This passage describes the setting in which Gabriel is looking for his sheep on his rural lands. He makes many references to the hedges, valleys, and hills.
I noticed that in many of our posts (mine, hcutting, mgodin, and carly) Hardy makes many references to the hills and hedges in Far From the Madding crowd.
"The hill was covered on its northern side by an ancient and decaying plantation of beeches, whose upper verge formed a line over the crest fringing its arched curve against the sky, like a mane. To-night these trees sheltered the southern slop from the keenest blasts, which smote the wood and floundered through it with a sound as of grumbling, or gushed over its crowning boughs in a weak moan. The dry leaves in the ditch simmered and boiled in the same breezes, a tongue of air occasionally ferreting out a few, and sending them spinning across the grass." (pg.15)
"It was a fine morning, and the sun lighted up to a scarlet glow the crimson jacket she wore, and painted a soft lustre upon her bright face and dark hair. The myrtles, geraniums, and cactuses packed around her were fresh and green, and at such a leafless season they invested the whole concern of horses, waggon, furniture, and girl with a peculiar vernal charm. What possessed her to indulge in such a performance in the sight of the sparrows, blackbirds, and unperceived farmer who were alone its spectators..." (p.12)
The descriptions of scenery are very much peaceful and calm. There are flowers and birds, a beautiful sun to set the stage. The description sets the tone for the novel as it too is "light" compared to his other works. In part because of the imagery and tone created by the setting, the novel becomes almost happy...
"The image as a whole was that of a small Noah's Ark on a small Ararat, allowing the traditionary outlines and general form of the Ark which are followed by toymakers--and by these means are established in men's imaginations among their firmest, because earliest impressions--to pass as an approximate pattern. The hut stood on little wheels, which raised its floor about a foot from the ground. Such shepherds' huts are dragged into the fields when the lambing season comes on, to shelter the shepherd in his enforced nightly attendance." p. 16-17
This passage reflects on the Biblical allusion of Noah's Ark. It compares Gabirel's farm, his hut, and fields to that of Noah's Ark and the great massif of Ararat in Turkey. This shows the hills of Gabriel's farm created by Hardy.
I notice the hill references and the light mood and tone words used to describe each setting. Every passage has something to do with the valley as dmagnant pointed out. This could be because of the serenity that is accompainied by this vision or because Hardy wants to press the idea of nature and rural life.
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