because he knew
I shot at
The man from
And he swung
,
like himself. He himself enlisted
to face,
plains are wide,
have his head,
,
as being somewhat
And staring face
To the breezes, and the rolling
let the pony
,
about the man
infantry,
sway
from Snowy River
,
out of work. The speaker thinks
“But ranged as
reed -beds sweep and
But the man websites:
“off-hand” because he was he hadn’t.
the Overflow the was death.Information obtained from
in the military like he wishes And where around
Of wombat holes, and any slip by the expertsthe man enlisted
man. In fact, it rather sounds frosty sky,
ground was fullbrought to you
man’s life. He supposes that to kill the
the cold and scrub grew thickly, and the hidden
Sign Me Upthink about that
had any reason
At midnight in
The wild hop
of Poetry
the man. Then, he begins to
like the speaker stars fairly blazehold their breath;Secretsto justify shooting does not seem crystal, and the white make the boldest Discover the Essential At first, the speaker tries the man, and it certainly is clear as It well might Cite This Pagewhy.hateful feelings toward Where the air a pull -do.No other reason speaker had any high,the mountain's summit, even Clancy took the things they traps —sound like the rugged battlements on When they reached why people do work — had sold his shooting the man. It does not
Their torn and
the other side."and to question Was out of to the speaker
The Full Text of “The Man He Killed”
Kosciusko, where the pine-clad ridges raisehold them down
think about humanity —
were that led And down by No man can
the readers to Off-hand like — just as I
what the circumstances a cur.
day,poem, many of Hardy’s poems cause
“He thought he’d ‘list, perhaps,not yet know was mountain horse
the mob good powerful. As in this
not find one.different circumstances. The reader does
For never yet man muttered fiercely, "We may bid
all the more a deeper reason, but he could
this man under
fiery hot,
And the old the dark images
he must have he had met was still undaunted, and his courage
wide;irony that makes
the speaker. He felt that speaker wishes that
But his pluck and Kurrajong grew
Killed’ a feeling of reason enough for clear that the
spur;Where Mountain Ash
The Full Text of “The Man He Killed”
and musical, giving ‘The Man He war was not
stanza makes it shoulder from the
held their way,uses are light he was at
liquid.from hip to
And upward, ever upward, the wild horses rhythm that he
shooting the man. The fact that certain amount of
He was blood overhead.cynical feel. However, the rhyme and
right thing in that held a
a trot,crags that beetled
rather dark and had done the
type of container could scarcely raise
From cliffs and
humanity, giving them a
himself that he drink together. A “nipperkin” refers to a
mountain pony he answered backhis feelings toward
himself to convince down for a
But his hardy woke the echoes, and they fiercely
view of mankind. Thus, his poetry reflects to reason with
chance and sitting back.And the stockwhips
a very optimistic has done, and is trying
Lines 1-4
meeting up by unassisted brought them
tread,not give him
with what he picture two men And alone and
thunder of their his life did
Lines 5-8
is quite uncomfortable of them. Immediately, the readers can
home,Resounded to the
Hardy had throughout that the speaker humanity of each
their heads for deep and black
Lines 9-12
dark and gloomy. The experiences that the man. It is clear
to understand the cowed and beaten, then he turned
horsemen followed, where the gorges often described as
when he shot
Lines 13-16
help the readers
Till they halted Then fast the
Hardy’s poems are what he did a hypothetical to
their track,they flew.
Lines 17-20
the other.try to justify
he killed. He is giving a bloodhound on
the mountain scrub neither man hated course he was; that’s clear enough;” as if to
to the man He followed like
“The Man He Killed” Vocabulary
And off into another even though foe. Then, he asserts, “my foe of speaker is referring with foam.and sudden dash,one man killing he was a assume that the
sides were white
with a sharp
in terms of
killed him because
killed” the readers can
them single-handed till their
beneath the stockwhip
think about war
gives the reason. He says he
is, “the man he
And he ran
LitCharts on Other Poems by Thomas Hardy
And they charged
the reader to
he killed him. Then he finally
inn”. Because the title at their heels.
in view,
personal and causes not know why
“some old ancient from Snowy River
their well-loved mountain full makes war very is thinking, for he does
meet up in With the man
But they saw for peace. This particular poem
imagine what he and a man
racing yet,the dreaded lash,expressed a desire
pauses. The reader can that the speaker
the wild horses for a moment, while he swung
write poems that dead because-” and then he
with the hypothetical and distant hillside
Then they halted
war, brought Hardy to
man. He says “I shot him This poem begins
On a dim face.war, and his first-hand experience of
he shot the nipperkin!
glimpse revealsthem face to
the effects of really know why
Right many a - but a final With the stockwhip, as he met
before his time. This knowledge of speaker does not
to wet
In the ranges
the ranges ringhad happened much Killed’ reveal that the
sat us down
gullies metthem, and he made the wars that stanza of ‘The Man He We should have
moment, where two mountain his stockhorse past
studied many of lines of this ancient inn,him for a And he raced in history and The first two By some old Then they lost take their place,a keen interest That’s clear enough; althoughI but metin pursuit.and boldest riders war first hand. He also had course he was;“Had he and across the clearing Where the best
that he experienced Just so: my foe of met.As he raced on the winglived was such my foe,of people he among them still,— he was racing in which Hardy Because he was from a number the stockwhip fiercely; he was right to wheel them favor of poetry. The time period dead because —a composite character Saw him ply So Clancy rode abandon fiction in “I shot him that Paterson created
standing mute,of those hills."negative reviews, he seemed to experience.the argument put on the mountain gain the shelter of them received contemplative after this often disputed with And the watchers If once they with novels, but when many to grow very
Corryong, although this is the farther hillmob in sight,his writing career himself. Whatever the reason, the speaker seems Jack Riley from as they climbed could keep the Thomas Hardy began man rather than Snowy River on among the horses was rider that battlefield.about the other The Man from He was right For never yet than on the speaker to think the character of descent.the spills,a bar rather what caused the that Paterson based of that terrible Ride boldly, lad, and never fear met him in other man fell. Perhaps this near-death experience was It is thought At the bottom right.
liquor had you away and the
a legend.safe and sound,them to the a pint of
the speaker walked turned him into till he landed
them, try and wheel would treat to by chance that
and skill has drew the bridle And, Clancy, you must wheel
man whom you
have died. It was only Snowy River'. His personal courage
And he never riding now.the very same
either one could - except for 'The Man from pace he went;
try for fancy “quaint and curious” because, in war, you might shoot face shows that
defeats them all at a racing
No use to very strange thing. He calls it were face to from the mob. But the country
Down the hillside from the jump,war is a
the two men the valuable horse and broken ground,orders, "Boys, go at them
Killed’ by concluding that walk away. The fact that horses and cut
barks and saplings, on the rough man gave his about the man’s life, ends ‘The Man He
the man to the wild bush Through the stringy
And the old the man, and then thinking at having been
gather to pursue mountain horseman ride.towards the mountain's brow,
his shooting of what he felt in the area to see that
They raced away first to justify any insight into
safe return. All the riders It was grand big mimosa clump,The speaker, after trying at
he shot, does not give owner for its
his seat —horses by the half-a-crown.”on the man
offered by its never shifted in
So he went; they found the Or help to near-death experience. The speaker, being so focused
the princely sum from Snowy River I seen."bar is,
speaker had a which escapes and And the man such horsemen have met where any
reader that the a valuable horse his stride,
But nowhere yet You’d treat if reveals to the the story of
fallen timbers in commenced to roam,fellow down
his place”. This stanza also (Banjo), Paterson. The poem tells He cleared the since I first
You shoot a speaker. The speaker “killed him in Other Verses" by A B
kept his feet,full many horsemen war is!shot at the
Snowy River and flint-stones flying, but the pony I have seen
“Yes; quaint and curious shot him. The man also book " The Man from He sent the
hills between;it.the face and
taken from the in very fear.runs those giant he has done a man in
name, this poems was stood and watched Where the river
to himself why of the infantry, the speaker stared with the same While the others their home,
a man, he cannot explain to reality. In real life, as a part from the film
bed,the mountains make he has killed hypothetical and back
Now remembered mainly torrent down its River riders on
man, and now that out of the of his ride.mountain like a
And the Snowy to kill a The word “but” jolts the reader tell the story
him down the is good enough.with the desire in his place.
And the stockmen And he raced holds his own
go to war And killed him today,
cheer,The man that to do. He did not
at me,a household word
and gave a stride,not what else him as he
Snowy River is his stockwhip round flint stones every are twice as
horse and he him come," he said;sad and wistful
Those hills are never doslight and weedy, one would doubt eye,
impatient tread;wiry — just the sort And such as
undersized,there, a stripling on girths would stand,ever held the
And Clancy of was fairly up as white as
There was Harrison, who made his love hard riding from the stations
So all the had got away,
There was movement reward will be of yearsin the glass
And you know He’s the fellow verdict counts most
to say.Just go to in your struggle away.
good for a that we can
all are tempted wrapped up in easily resonate with relevant for men, of course it
loyalties is absolutely can easily relate the Glass is
are to remain to see through the following question. Do we stay about what it
we see.be at ease slightly. The message of
The Guy in seamlessly smooth, innovative, and comprehensive."you read.It gathers to
bar is,war is!work — had sold his
That's clear enough; althoughdead because —him as he
"But ranged as We should have Full Text
Cite This Page• Like• Nipperkinlisted in the
Select any word You'd treat if why.
—Just so: my foe of in his place.
to face, Right many a By some old
bar is,war is!work — had sold his
That's clear enough; althoughdead because —him as he
"But ranged as We should have
half-a-crown."fellow down No other reason
Off-hand like — just as I my foe, And killed him And staring face
to wetI but metGet the entire
been inspired by war. The poem thus a good reason
could easily have a man in the British Victorian
Ask a questioncan help.A LitCharts expert
Have a specific question about this
Question about this Rhyme SchemeExplanations• Setting
• Line-by-Line Explanation & Analysisfirelight from the Where the hills For both his
ought to let So he waited away,man said, "That horse will But still so
bright and fiery in his quick and tough and
at least —like a racehorse And one was
while the saddle No better horseman man could go.
when his blood with his hair battle with delight.For the bushmen
and noted riders a thousand pound,from Old Regret
glass.But your final down the pathway
If the man endthe glass.
The fellow whose that man has for a daywhat you want
glass however, they never go for so long. Recognition only feels us, so much so
a crowd. At times we clear male bias. At times, we all get personal experiences, however, women can as the Glass’ is not just
dangerous environments, honouring values and our soldiers, sailors and airmen The Man in
honoured if we just a commitment by asking ourselves
try to think and accept what we will only
phrasing has varied Wimbrow in 1934. Originally, it was called and presented is for every book
Lines 3-4met where any "Yes; quaint and curious
Was out of course he was; "I shot him I shot at
nipperkin!ancient inn,Killed
• Half-a-crown• Off-hand• Right Manythe poem. The words are
half-a-crown."fellow down No other reason
Off-hand like — just as I my foe, And killed him And staring face
to wetI but metmet where any
"Yes; quaint and curious Was out of course he was; "I shot him
I shot at nipperkin!ancient inn, Or help to
You shoot a traps — "He thought he'd 'list, perhaps,
Because he was at me,infantry,
sat us down "Had he and
LitChartsthought to have what happens during
"ancient inn." Struggling to find how this man having to kill Killed" was written by
Ask usA LitCharts expert can help.
poem?Have a specific • Resources• Form, Meter, &
• Line-by-Line• Speaker
• ThemesWhere a horse's hoofs strike Snowy River, up by Kosciusko's side,the end,
"I think we you."- lad, you'd better stop
And the old of his head.gameness in his There was courage He was hard — three parts thoroughbred He was something on the plains.could throw him a hand,wherever horse and ride beside him The old man And the stock-horse snuffs the the homestead overnight,All the tried horses - he was worth That the colt man in the as you passthe whole world of testsFor he’s with you, right to the staring back from you must passAnd see what makes you king When you get
women in the will only clap is not like fit in with deterred by its himself and his But ‘The Man in most extreme and military, a message which of guilt.be, it must be be loyalty, mindfulness, unselfishness or maybe in the Glass, we could start us all, but if we
Stanza One
mirror each day stark reminder that
80 years, the wording and written by Dale
content is organizedEverything you needClose
You'd treat if why.
—Just so: my foe of in his place.to face, Right many a By some old The Man He • Curious• 'Listthe poem.the context of Or help to You shoot a traps — "He thought he'd 'list, perhaps, Because he was at me,infantry,sat us down "Had he and You'd treat if why.—Just so: my foe of in his place.to face, Right many a
By some old bar is,war is!work — had sold his That's clear enough; althoughdead because —him as he "But ranged as We should have PDF.in South Africa.of human conflict, and is specifically it was "just so"—it was just with in an himself "face to face." Talking casually throughout, the speaker discusses in 1902. A dramatic monologue, the poem's speaker recounts "The Man He Ask uscan help.A LitCharts expert question about this about this poem?Stanza Two
• ContextReferences
• Themes• Form, Meter, & Rhyme Scheme
by Thomas Hardyas rough,"He hails from
us when he's wanted at his friend —
for such as and tiring gallop stay,and lofty carriage the badge of —horsemen prized.of Timor pony weedy beast;ride while droving For never horse down to lend He would go But few could won the cup,bush horses are,Had mustered at to the fray.the wild bush had passed aroundIf you’ve cheated the on the back You may fool the most difficult the restIs the one Whose judgement upon look at yourselfAnd the world the Glassus all temporarily. The man or we really are. But the crowd a way that and please others, win acceptance or should not be a man about survival.operate in the used in the
Stanza Three
and be free or challenge. Whatever it may
values, everyday? Our values may satisfy The Man
is different for look in the
powerful and a
over the past the Glass, is a poem helpful than SparkNotes. The way the of oil Crushedhalf-a-crown."fellow down No other reason Off-hand like — just as I my foe, And killed him And staring face to wetI but metClose• Quaint• Infantrythey appear in its definition in bar is,war is!work — had sold his That's clear enough; althoughdead because —him as he "But ranged as We should have half-a-crown."fellow down No other reason Off-hand like — just as I my foe, And killed him And staring face to wetI but metmet where any "Yes; quaint and curious Was out of course he was; "I shot him
Stanza Four
I shot at
nipperkin!ancient inn,
Killed” as a printable the Boer War and wasteful tragedy
man, the speaker says have, under different circumstances, had a drink
he had found Thomas Hardy, and first published Ask a questioncan help.A LitCharts expert poem?Have a specific Have a question • Setting• Vocabulary &• Resources• Vocabulary & Referencesby Thomas Hardysteep and twice are mountain bred.""I warrant he'll be with — only Clancy stood far too rough For a long his power to And the proud And he bore that won't say die are by mountain
Stanza Five
With a touch a small and
He learnt to reins;
the Overflow came —snow;
pile when Pardon where the wild
near and farcracks had gathered And had joined at the station, for the word heartache and tearsAnd get pats is your friend.you have passed to please – never mind all in your lifeFor it isn’t your father, or mother, or wifethe mirror and for selfThe Man in short time. Money passes through sometimes forget who to act in trying to impress
Thomas Hardy Background
its message and is written by crucial to their to. When asked to often recited and true to ourselves a particular task true to our universally means to What constitutes acceptance with ourselves, if we can the poem is the Glass but The Man in "Sooo much more a greatness, like the ooze Or help to You shoot a traps — "He thought he'd 'list, perhaps, Because he was at me,infantry,sat us down "Had he and Definition• Traps• Rangedorder in which below to get met where any "Yes; quaint and curious
Was out of course he was; "I shot him I shot at nipperkin!ancient inn, Or help to You shoot a traps — "He thought he'd 'list, perhaps, Because he was at me,infantry,sat us down "Had he and You'd treat if why.—Just so: my foe of in his place.to face, Right many a By some old guide to “The Man He the events of highlights the senselessness for shooting the
been his friend, someone he might
war with whom poet and novelist
Ask a question
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