Question

What does the poet tell about his feelings before he left for Lyonnesses and after his return?

Answer 1

Hint: The context of the above question is given in the poem “ When I set out for Lyonnesse” written by Thomas Hardy in 1869. The theme of the poem elaborates on the poet’s transformation after undertaking a journey to an imaginary land. The theme can also be taken to indicate a person’s transformation after walking down the path of spirituality.

Complete answer:
As per a legend, Lyonnesse is a kingdom which bordered Cornwall,England. It is now supposed to be submerged in the Sea. It was the mythical birthplace of the hero Tristram. The poet had visited a parish for the purpose of supervising and restoring a Church. This parish is assumed to be a place in Lyonnesse.

The poet had a feeling of loneliness before he left for Lyonnesse. He describes his surroundings using the imagery ‘rime on the spray’ which means that the leaves and branches of the trees were covered in frost. It was a cold winter time. In literature the use of such imagery usually depicts sorrow, coldness and darkness. This reveals about the poet’s emotions of sadness before and during his journey.

This darkness and coldness of his life is diminished by the starlight in the sky while he is still on his way to Lyonnesse. He is also eager as well as excited to know what would happen once he reaches that place. He feels no one can predict how it is going to be at Lyonnesse.

After his return, people find that his eyes are glistening, it was magical. Everyone could see the light in his eyes and it was believed that something transformed him at Lyonnesse. Nobody was sure of his experiences at Lyonnesse but the spark in his eyes was undeniable.

Note: It was his return after restoring the church that his eyes felt magical. The association with church could depict something about the poet’s spirituality. This could imply that the path of spirituality had lessened his sorrows and rejuvenated his life. The poet was a young apprentice architect, poet as well as a novelist. It was on his return from the parish that people noticed this spark in his eyes and also a piece of paper sticking out from his pocket which had this poem written on it.