Do you think the mood of the speaker in Thomas Hardy’s “The Darkling Thrush” changes because of the thrush’s song? Explain.
Yes, I believe the mood of the speaker in Thomas Hardy's "The Darkling Thrush" does change because of the thrush's song. Initially, the speaker in the poem is depicted as feeling despondent and pessimistic, as he laments the dreary winter landscape and the state of the world. However, when he hears the song of the thrush, a sudden shift occurs in his mood. The thrush's joyous and melodic singing seems to bring a sense of hope and renewed vitality to the speaker, as he describes the bird's song as a "full-hearted evensong / Of joy illimited."
The contrast between the bleakness of the winter setting and the lively song of the thrush seems to evoke a sense of optimism and beauty in the speaker. The thrush's song serves as a beacon of hope amidst the darkness and despair, prompting the speaker to consider the possibility of renewal and regeneration. By the end of the poem, the speaker's mood has been transformed from one of desolation to one of tentative hope, thanks to the uplifting and transcendent song of the thrush.