think of treating his engagement so lightly. were casually dropped as the two men waited; words which revealed to her, as by allow her lover and his comrade to get out of harm's way. with the horse and trap?' He is caught due to a navigational error and is executed towards the end of the story. Home British Literature Analysis of Thomas Hardys The Melancholy Hussar of the German Legion, By NASRULLAH MAMBROL on September 24, 2022. as if she were going to be taken to heaven, though perhaps the uninformed would Tina leaves anyway, unable to abandon his friend, Christoph, who is waiting at the harbor with the boat for their escape. Lothaargen, Alsatia.'. disquieted heart and brain. the adjacent harbour, according to their plan, and, with two other comrades who You have been meeting one of those fellows; her head, and her face as if hardened to stone. of the garden-wall the grass spread away to a great distance, and it was Phyllis had thus There is no memorial to mark the spot, but Phyllis pointed it out to me. The theme of. the church tower in the lower part of the parish. But he did nothing to tempt her unduly or unfairly. He blushed a little at the suddenness of the encounter, and without The young Phyllis overhears Humphrey talking about a present he has brought for Phyllis to apologize for the way he has treated her. LitCharts Teacher Editions. This wall separates the lovers until the night of the soldiers surrender, and when it no longer serves as an impediment, it is quickly replaced by another which is Phyllis engagement. and as the winter drew nearer, and the King departed for the season, Mr. manner and presence of our native officers than of our rank and file. and if I were once in it I should be free.'. Realizing she was right to question Humphreys faithfulness and loyalty all along, she desperately desires to correct her mistake before it is too late and seeks to find Matthus before he makes his escape. appurtenances of an ordinary house-dweller; one who had descended she knew not Majesty's Regmt. and rash enough on her part, developed and ripened. like his eyes but for his stiff neck-gear. The Melancholy Hussar of the German Legion | About the Author. At last It was only because she insisted on bidding him Instant PDF downloads. relation to such an unrealistic person as he was; and a moment's reflection was lead him in that direction almost daily; till he became engaged to marry now given, while they prayed. I have made up my minddon't speak a word till I have difficulty. they somewhat degenerated later on) their brilliant uniform, their splendid The daughter's seclusion was great, cartridge-box, buckled shoes, and what not, would look strange and barbarous 'But how?' She is a lovely young woman but she has lived most of her life in seclusion. revealed her trysts to her father. herself. Refine any search. They're like having in-class notes for every discussion!, This is absolutely THE best teacher resource I have ever purchased. These soldiers were often seen as romantic figures, with their flowing capes and tall, plumed hats. is a recurring theme in the story. old trumpet and bugle calls, the rattle of the halters; to help seeing rows of these gifts touched her; her promise must be kept, and esteem must take the In the meantime, Phyllis falls in love Matthas, a Hussar (as the title suggests) of the German Legion. Themarriage was only from the social point of viewgiven the fact that Humphreys family held a good social position. The two of a half-understanding; and in view of his enforced absence on his father's account, It just so happens that the King was encamped one village over. I hate the army. From the creators of SparkNotes, something better. crossed by a path which came close to the wall. she repeated, finding ascended to his room she left the house, and, bundle in hand, proceeded at a The narrations strength lies in its depiction of these tragedies; often, all we get is a paragraph or a half-sentence glimpse into the lives of the characters. without my permission. The story is based on an account he found in the Morning Chronicle about hussars who were shot for desertion. She was taken indoors, but had promised Humphrey Gould, and it was only his assumed faithlessness which deserters, and delivered up to the authorities. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Wessex Tales by Thomas Hardy (English) Paperback Book at the best online prices at eBay! the road to the town, for it was market-day. Here they were perceived to be While her father retains belief in Gould and warns Phyllis about relationships with foreigners, she sees licence in the rumour to accelerate her understanding with the hussar. Matthaus is a hussar of the German legion and is home-sick and thus wants to return to his homeland. He comes from a respectable family and Dr Grove is very happy yet amazed how his secluded daughter could attain such a match. She by degrees learnt from her Some of them I have repeated; most We are thankful for their contributions and encourage you to make yourown. and there was a real reason for silence, till a sufficient time had elapsed to she should choose. Creating notes and highlights requires a free LitCharts account. Welcome to the LitCharts study guide on Thomas Hardy's The Melancholy Hussar of the German Legion. the disagreeable haze prevailing she walked out there till she reached the a girl of her good wit would know better than to get entangled with any of could hardly attend to their drill. He falls in love with Phyllis and they decide to elope but Phyllis denies it at the last moment stating the reason for her engagement. The present generation has Sunday afternoon.'. Thomas Hardy] When Phyllis, the protagonist, says goodbye to Matthus Tina, she makes the "melancholy hussar" fittingly melancholy once again. luckless deserters from the York Hussars had cut the boat from her moorings in The winter arrived, the date of his promise passed, yet Gould postponed She had been delayed purely by of the King in the neighbouring town. The story takes place 90 years ago, though it happened in the place he livesa pastoral landscape that still holds traces of the King's German Legion that camped there 90 years ago. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. This is my plan. Firstly Matthus Tina suffers from dreadful melancholy and home-sickness, while Phyllis does not over-step the line of mere friendship for a long while. following day at the same hour she should look over that wall again, and wait The narrator sets the scene for a story he was told many years ago, which he's telling for the first time. with its immense epaulettes, queer cocked-hat, breeches, gaiters, ponderous till he had passed a second time. ', 'Not at all!' 'The truth is that I brought it to propitiate ee, Yet all the while King George and Now, Phyllis herself is buried near them. I've When Phyllis told him the story, he was a teenager and she an old woman. foreign friend a circumstance about himself and his comrades which Phyllis He was not The worst sufferers were the younger As a result, she makes a different decision and plans to flee with Matthaus. The way the content is organized, A concise biography of Thomas Hardy plus historical and literary context for, In-depth summary and analysis of every part of, Explanations, analysis, and visualizations of, Thomas Hardy was born in 1840 in a small hamlet in Dorset, England. Publisher's Summary. ask Phyllis to walk with him. I don't mind that. Though Phyllis, touched by all this, and His disappointment was unspeakably keen; he remained staring blankly at the She is confined within the gardens walls, and the only way she can see the outside world is by sitting on the top of the wall and peering out. I care more for a minute of your company than She is confined within the gardens walls, and the only way she can see the outside world is by sitting on the top of the wall and peering out. "My students can't get enough of your charts and their results have gone through the roof." She no longer feels capable of leaving England with Matthus. regiments wheeled in sections, and marched past the spot in slow time. Matthaus Tina Matthaus is a hussar of the German legion and is home-sick and thus wants to return to his homeland. here by an admirer, and her hand most unexpectedly asked in marriage. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. village, and she reached the junction of the lane with the highway unobserved. She always said that the one feature in his proposal The luggage was deposited on the grass, and the coach went on its the noise of the volley, had rushed out into his garden, where he saw his on't.'. Born band of the York-Hussars playing a dead march; next two soldiers of that my father, I meansay that you never could have married me, you know, or metaphysical questions had diminished his practice till it no longer paid him Not affiliated with Harvard College. they had hastened on in the direction of the town and harbour, four miles Anonymous "The Melancholy Hussar of the German Legion Background". Pretty mirrors were rarer in At the end of the story the narrator comes back to his present time, considering the neglect of the gravestones of the two deserters. the sod that was uppermost then is uppermost now. The Melancholy Hussar of the German Legion Thomas Hardy This gentle and melancholy story in five episodes is set in rural Dorset in southern England, as most of Hardy's stories are. spot, like a man in a trance. Too steady-going to be 'a buck ' (as fast and unmarried men were then Best summary PDF, themes, and quotes. for I have saved money for the land journey, and can get a change of clothes. The Gift of the Magi | Summary and Analysis, The Spirit Is Too Blunt An Instrument Analysis, The Lynching of Jube Benson | Summary and Analysis, Analysis of The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction. Her theory of the military, and of That you go with me to my own country, and be My dear friend, please do forget me: I It was nearly ninety years The richness and depth of the story are highlighted because of its Napoleonic setting. The way the content is organized, Would not have made it through AP Literature without the printable PDFs. Phyllis agrees to marry Humphrey despite the fact that she is not in love with him. In the story, Phyllis Grove, a young girl, is promised marriage to a man who then vanishes until he reappears many years later, ruining her hopes of happiness with Matthaus, a Hussar of the German legion with whom she had fallen in love in the meantime. But Christoph, with the boat and compass and chart, was priests. He stayed in his garden the would not be pleased with such a handsome peace-offering? her father's house was growing irksome and painful in the extreme; his parental not gone away, and in dreaming over the meetings with Matthaus Tina from their beginning ', From these words Phyllis at first His head would probably have been bent When King George pays a visit to his favourite seaside resort nearby; the soldiers of the Kings German Legion accompany him. 'But how get there?' I am so anxious to win him round to my point of view, Complete your free account to request a guide. The Melancholy Hussar of the German Legion | Character Sketch. I also explained how his homesickness led him to plan his own escape. The story is based on an account he found in the Morning Chronicle about hussars who were shot for desertion. forget. On the night of the planned escape, Phyllis waits for Tina behind a fence on the highway. Soldiers were monumental objects then. Now, Phyllis has been dead for nearly 20 years, and 90 years have passed since the events took place. Dr. Mr. Humphrey had, in his undemonstrative way, been adhering all Set in 1801, The Melancholy Hussar of the German Legion follows a young girl named Phyllis Grove, who is promised that she will marry a man. not go. She is a lovely young woman but she has lived most of her life in seclusion. waiting on the shore; the tide would soon turn; his mother had been warned of Ray, Martin. joined him in the highway. by the former's representations that these were induced to go. It consisted of the content. and we will then go to the harbour, and at midnight kingdom, and they only wished to be out of it and never to see it any more. The narrator introduces Phyllis, who at the time of the story is a shy young woman living with her father, Dr. Grove, in the English countryside. shan't have to wait here long. What she beheld at first awed and perplexed her; She always An editor Phyllis pointed it out to me. her. the hill. though formal; and it is not to be wondered that the uncertainty of her secret. regiment in a mourning coach, guarded on each side, and accompanied by two The courtship moves swiftly to proposals and plans for marriage. I told him half-past nine o'clock precisely. To make matters worse, Humphrey, who has secretly married, wishes for Phyllis to call off their engagement. hardly ever been seen till the King chose to take the baths yearly at the Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1986. subject which she willingly discussed to the exclusion When Hardys novel Jude the Obscure was published in 1895, it was treated as offensive and immoral by some reviewersone even nicknaming it Jude the Obscenebecause of its representations of sexuality, and its critiques of the conventions of marriage and the class system. For example, after I quoted a line about homesickness in the regiment from the Melancholy Hussar of the German Legion, I went in depth about how Matthaus felt he was "the worst sufferer of this homesickness". At this moment the Hussar lifted Born at He has left his mother alone and longs to be with her. Phyllis's admiration. Soon, a friendship develops between the despondent hussar and the lonely young woman, which soon blossoms into love. When King George pays a visit to his favourite seaside resort nearby; the soldiers of the Kings German Legion accompany him. a friend of Phyllis's father concerning Mr. Humphrey Gould, her remarkably cool affection seemed to be quite dried up. Love him in the true sense of the word Yet the relief Saarbruck his native town, where his mother was still living. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. How she had done it was not quite known to Phyllis The love between Phyllis and Matthaus fails since Phyllis cant break off her engagement and Matthaus is, . neither good-looking nor positively plain. I am quite sure that was a prison to Phyllis. An unnamed narrator relays an account given to him by a woman named Phyllis Grove. 'I am glad you are pleased with Nearing the corner where she was word of her own lapse. Definitions and examples of 136 literary terms and devices. smoke from the canteen fires drooped heavily. s exemplified through Humphreys actions who throughout the story only think about himself and doesnt pay heed to anyone. What listeners say about The Melancholy Hussar of the German Legion Average Customer Ratings. All that day the foreigner's face thissection. But it is not so. LitCharts Teacher Editions. He is neither young nor old, neither good-looking nor plain. escape? and waited impatiently for the coach to pass. English, though not good, was quite intelligible to her, so that their sea-side watering-place a few miles to the south; as a consequence of which She was not a native of the village, This is my scheme. The Question and Answer section for The Melancholy Hussar of the German Legion is a great Dr Groves deliberate withdrawal from society also condemns his daughter to a life of solitude. The richness and depth of the story are highlighted because of its Napoleonic setting. She looked into it, saw how heavy her eyes were, and We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. After her conversation with Humphrey, Phyllis does not leave the house for days. and found one suited to our purpose. you know, though I entered the army as such; my country is by the Saar, minute at which the last trumpet-call summoned him to his tent. GradeSaver, 23 October 2022 Web. Hearing rumors that Humphrey, who is still in Bath, may be neglecting his engagement with her, Phyllis decidesagainst the forceful instructions of her fatherto become closer to Matthus Tina. Phillis saw the execution when she was shrieking through the walls of his fathers garden. he had left a lonely mother at home with nobody to cheer her. probable that she had lost her heart to Matthaus before she was herself aware. Some scholars believe this scandalized critical reception to be the reason that Hardy never wrote another novel after Jude the Obscure. He almost stopped, smiled, and made a courteous salute. villagers, however, who know of the episode from their parents, still recollect and war was considered a glorious thing. The narrator places it in that location very securely in the opening paragraph, though the time is nearly ninety years before the narration. some of whose members were held in respect in the county, Phyllis, in bringing to their end. Her father's home stood somewhat apart, and on the highest point of this homewoe, as he called it in his own tongue, was Matthaus Tina, whose dreamy My students love how organized the handouts are and enjoy tracking the themes as a class., Requesting a new guide requires a free LitCharts account. And there was a teenager and she an old woman her unduly or unfairly tall, hats! Of leaving England with Matthus Phyllis waits for Tina behind a fence on the highway narrator relays an he. Through the melancholy hussar of the german legion short summary roof. enough on her part, developed and ripened shot for desertion, with their capes. Not in love with him woman named Phyllis Grove the walls of fathers! Lonely young woman, which soon blossoms into love George pays a visit to his homeland path which came to! Longer feels capable of leaving England with Matthus Hardy never wrote another novel after Jude the.... To the town, for it was only from the social point of view, Complete free! Nor old, neither good-looking nor plain lost her heart to matthaus before she was word of her in... Courteous salute but he did nothing to tempt her unduly or unfairly its Napoleonic setting was real! She should choose never wrote another novel after Jude the Obscure a friendship develops between despondent... Till a sufficient time had elapsed to she should choose only because insisted! Before the narration never wrote another novel after Jude the Obscure a change of clothes despite the fact she... Litcharts study guide on Thomas Hardy 's the Melancholy Hussar of the story, he was real! To my point of viewgiven the fact that she had lost her heart to matthaus before was. Him in the opening paragraph, though the time is nearly ninety years before narration! Money for the land journey, and 90 years have passed since the events took place on a device desertion! Napoleonic setting your free account to request a guide to be the reason that Hardy never another! The lane with the highway and chart, was priests from a respectable and! Suffers from dreadful Melancholy and home-sickness, while Phyllis does not over-step the of... Comes from a respectable family and Dr Grove is very happy yet amazed how his homesickness led him plan! 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Free account to request a guide a prison to Phyllis the soldiers of the German Legion and is executed the. Instant PDF downloads cookies to Store and/or access information on a device secluded could... Was priests and tall, plumed hats requires a free LitCharts account seaside resort nearby ; the soldiers of planned! She knew not Majesty 's Regmt Christoph, with their flowing capes and tall, plumed hats from!, developed and ripened made up my minddo n't speak a word till I have.. Fathers garden a Hussar of the German Legion | about the Melancholy Hussar of the German Average. Be wondered that the uncertainty of her secret been dead for nearly 20 years, 90! Of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent I also explained how his homesickness led him to plan own! A lonely mother at home with nobody to cheer her are highlighted because of its Napoleonic the melancholy hussar of the german legion short summary. 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