The Man He Killed (1902)

"The Man He Killed" by Thomas Hardy

Context

Thomas Hardy's "The Man He Killed" was written in 1902, at the end of the Second Boer War (1899–1902), a conflict between the British Empire and the Boer republics in South Africa. It reflects the senselessness and irony of war, where individuals who might otherwise share camaraderie are turned into enemies by circumstance. Written in 1902 during the Boer Wars, the poem critiques the arbitrary nature of conflict, emphasising how economic necessity drives ordinary men to enlist.

The Poem

'Had he and I but met By some old ancient inn, We should have sat us down to wet Right many a nipperkin!

← Contrast

'But ranged as infantry, And staring face to face, I shot at him as he at me, And killed him in his place.

← Repetitive structure

'I shot him dead because – Because he was my foe, Just so: my foe of course he was; That's clear enough; although

← Repetition

'He thought he'd 'list, perhaps, Off-hand like – just as I – Was out of work – had sold his traps – No other reason why.

← Tone

'Yes; quaint and curious war is! You shoot a fellow down You'd treat if met where any bar is, Or help to half-a-crown.'

← Contrast

5 quotes + analysis to achieve a grade 9

1. "Had he and I but met / By some old ancient inn"

• Analysis: The speaker imagines a peaceful meeting in a pub rather than on the battlefield. The contrast between the pub and the war shows how random circumstances turn potential friends into enemies. Hardy uses this to highlight the absurdity of war, where shared humanity is ignored.

2. "I shot at him as he at me"

• Analysis: The simple, repetitive structure reflects how mechanical and unemotional killing becomes in war. The phrase shows the mutual violence of soldiers, emphasising that the act of killing is often impersonal and forced by duty, not personal hatred.

3. "Because he was my foe, / Just so: my foe of course he was"

• Analysis: The speaker tries to justify his actions, but the repetition of "foe" and "because" reveals his doubt and guilt. Hardy shows how soldiers struggle to make sense of their actions when faced with the reality of killing another human being.

4. "No other reason why"

• Analysis: This phrase highlights how pointless the killing was. The blunt and casual tone reflects how war reduces human lives to meaningless actions, driven by circumstances like poverty or enlistment, rather than real animosity.

5. "Yes; quaint and curious war is!"

• Analysis: The speaker's tone here is bitterly ironic. The contrast between "quaint" and the brutality of war exposes its absurdity. Hardy uses this line to criticise how war is often glorified, despite being cruel and senseless.

Form & Structure Points

• Ballad Form: The poem follows a traditional ballad structure with regular quatrains and an ABAB rhyme scheme. This form gives it a lyrical, narrative quality, reinforcing its storytelling nature.
• Dramatic Monologue: The first-person perspective allows the speaker to voice her pain and resentment directly, creating a powerful sense of intimacy and emotional depth.
• Contrast: The poem contrasts the speaker's experiences with those of Cousin Kate, highlighting the hypocrisy of societal values and the consequences of class and gender inequalities.
• Repetition: The repeated questioning ("Why did a great lord find me out?") reflects the speaker's anguish and the cyclical nature of her thoughts, emphasising her inability to escape her past.

Themes

1. Betrayal and Hypocrisy: The poem critiques societal double standards that condemn women like the speaker while excusing men like the lord.
2. Love and Loss: The speaker contrasts her genuine love with the superficial relationships around her, underscoring the pain of betrayal.
3. Social Class and Power: The lord's ability to discard the speaker and elevate Cousin Kate reflects the rigid class hierarchies of Victorian society.
4. Female Agency and Resistance: Despite her suffering, the speaker reclaims her power through her son, challenging societal expectations and asserting her resilience.

Example Paragraph for a Grade 9 Answer

In Cousin Kate, Rossetti explores betrayal through imagery and contrast. The metaphor "He wore me like a golden knot, / He changed me like a glove" highlights the speaker's objectification and the lord's betrayal of her trust. Similarly, the repetition of "good and pure" exposes societal hypocrisy, where Cousin Kate is rewarded for her perceived virtue while the speaker is ostracised. The juxtaposition of "shame" and "pride" in "My fair-haired son, my shame, my pride" reveals the speaker's complex emotions, as she reclaims her power through motherhood. These techniques allow Rossetti to critique Victorian society's double standards surrounding gender and morality. Comparably, in [Insert Other Poem], [Insert Comparison]. Both poets highlight betrayal as a catalyst for emotional and societal conflict.