How we cite our quotes: Citations follow this format: (Line)
Quote #1
And every spirit upon the earth
Seemed fervourless as I. (15-16)
OK, we're cheating here. This is exactly the opposite of perseverance. In fact, it's pretty much rolling over and playing dead. Don't get us wrong, that's a great trick…for a dog. Which is where humankind seems to be on the species chain in this poem. C'mon, people – get up off the mat!
Quote #2
An aged thrush, frail, gaunt, and small,
In blast-beruffled plume,
Had chosen thus to fling his soul
Upon the growing gloom. (21-24)
Can you come up with any more adjectives to explain how this bird has no good reason to be singing such a lovely song? Let's face it: life is rough. Note how Hardy switches from elaborate metaphors to lists of adjectives in this passage. He's hammering the point home: this bird's got nothing going for it but pure faith.
Quote #3
So little cause for carolings
Of such ecstatic sound
Was written on terrestrial things (25-27)
This, folks, is the definition of perseverance. It's believing in Santa Claus when everyone in your third-grade class tells you that he's just the guy in the mall with a fake beard. It's knowing that you can make the A team in basketball, even though your coach seems to think that you're a permanent bencher. You've got to believe, friends. Heck, if a bird can do it….
Quote #4
That I could think there trembled through
His happy good-night air
Some blessed Hope, (29-31)
Ironically, our speaker's not persuaded to Hope by the bird's song. It's the fact that this thrush is determined to sing despite having good reasons to shut up and die that so impresses our speaker. Maybe he'll even follow suit, eh?