“The Man He Killed” by Thomas Hardy: A Critical Analysis

Introduction: “The Man He Killed” by Thomas Hardy

“The Man He Killed” by Thomas Hardy, first appeared in 1902 in Harper’s Weekly, was included in his collection Time’s Laughingstocks and Other Verses, the poem is a powerful exploration of the absurdity of war. Its concise and conversational tone, coupled with its stark contrast between the mundane and the deadly, make it particularly suitable for school texts. Hardy’s masterful use of irony and understatement invites critical analysis, encouraging students to delve into complex themes such as the dehumanizing effects of conflict and the fragility of human life.

Text: “The Man He Killed” by Thomas Hardy

Annotations: “The Man He Killed” by Thomas Hardy

Stanza	Annotation
1	The speaker imagines an alternate scenario where he and his enemy meet in a peaceful setting, like an old inn, and share drinks together.
2	The speaker describes the reality of war, where they faced each other as enemies and engaged in combat, resulting in the speaker killing the other man.
3	The speaker attempts to justify his actions, citing that the other man was his enemy, but acknowledges the simplicity and arbitrariness of this justification.
4	The speaker reflects on the circumstances that led the other man to enlist, suggesting that he was driven by poverty and lack of opportunities, just like the speaker himself.
5	The speaker comments on the absurdity and cruelty of war, where enemies are killed without personal animosity, and notes the contrast between this and the kindness shown to strangers in everyday life.

Phrases explained:

• “nipperkin”: a small cup or container for liquor
• “foe”: enemy
• “‘list”: enlisted (in the military)
• “traps”: belongings or equipment
• “half-a-crown”: a small amount of money
• “quaint and curious war is”: war is strange and ironic

Literary And Poetic Devices: “The Man He Killed” by Thomas Hardy

Device	Definition	Example from Text	Explanation
Alliteration	Repetition of initial consonant sounds in nearby words.	“Had he and I but met”	The repetition of the “h” sound emphasizes the potential camaraderie between the speaker and his foe.
Anaphora	The repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses.	“Because — / Because he was my foe”	Repetition emphasizes the speaker’s attempt to justify his actions.
Assonance	Repetition of vowel sounds within nearby words.	“No other reason why.”	The repetition of the “o” sound creates a rhythmic and contemplative tone.
Caesura	A pause in a line of poetry, often marked by punctuation.	“I shot him dead because — / Because he was my foe,”	The dash creates a pause, reflecting the speaker’s hesitation and internal conflict.
Colloquialism	Use of informal or everyday language.	“Just so: my foe of course he was”	The use of informal language makes the speaker’s reasoning appear casual and unconsidered.
Consonance	Repetition of consonant sounds, typically at the end of words.	“Just so: my foe of course he was”	Repetition of the “s” sound adds a sense of finality to the speaker’s justification.
Diction	The choice and use of words and phrases in writing.	“Quaint and curious war is!”	The choice of “quaint” and “curious” reflects the speaker’s bewilderment at the nature of war.
Dramatic Irony	When the audience knows something the characters do not.	The speaker rationalizes killing a man he could have befriended.	The audience understands the tragic irony in the speaker’s justification of the killing.
Enjambment	The continuation of a sentence without a pause beyond the end of a line.	“Had he and I but met / By some old ancient inn,”	The sentence flows into the next line, emphasizing the missed opportunity for friendship.
Hyperbole	Exaggerated statements not meant to be taken literally.	“I shot him dead because —”	The statement is blunt and exaggerated, underscoring the absurdity of the action.
Imagery	Descriptive language that appeals to the senses.	“By some old ancient inn,”	Creates a vivid image of a peaceful meeting place, contrasting with the battlefield.
Irony	A contrast between expectation and reality.	“You’d treat if met where any bar is”	It’s ironic that the speaker might have befriended the man he killed under different circumstances.
Juxtaposition	Placing two elements close together to present a comparison or contrast.	“You shoot a fellow down / You’d treat if met where any bar is”	Juxtaposes the violence of war with the normalcy of civilian life, highlighting the absurdity.
Metaphor	A figure of speech comparing two unlike things without “like” or “as.”	“Quaint and curious war is!”	War is metaphorically described as “quaint and curious,” emphasizing its strange and irrational nature.
Mood	The emotional atmosphere of a literary work.	The poem’s mood is reflective and somber.	The mood captures the speaker’s contemplation of the futility of war.
Oxymoron	A figure of speech in which contradictory terms appear together.	“Quaint and curious war”	The contradictory terms highlight the paradoxical nature of war.
Paradox	A statement that contradicts itself but still seems true.	“Quaint and curious war is!”	The paradox captures the strange reality that war, despite its horrors, is often seen as inevitable.
Personification	Giving human characteristics to non-human entities.	“War” as a curious entity	War is personified as something that can be curious, adding to its absurdity.
Repetition	The action of repeating something that has already been said or written.	“Because — / Because he was my foe”	Repetition emphasizes the speaker’s struggle to find a rational reason for his actions.
Tone	The author’s attitude toward the subject.	The tone is ironic and reflective.	The tone reveals the speaker’s perplexity and the ironic nature of his justification for killing.

Themes: “The Man He Killed” by Thomas Hardy

1. The Futility of War: Hardy’s “The Man He Killed” is a scathing indictment of the senselessness of conflict. Through the speaker’s detached and matter-of-fact tone, Hardy highlights the absurd contradiction between the camaraderie imagined in a civilian context and the deadly reality of the battlefield. The lines “Had he and I but met / By some old ancient inn” contrast sharply with “I shot at him as he at me,” emphasizing the tragic irony of killing a potential friend. The poem ultimately questions the rationale behind war, suggesting it is driven by arbitrary forces rather than meaningful cause.
2. The Dehumanizing Effects of War: Hardy masterfully depicts the dehumanizing impact of war on the individual. The speaker’s reduction of the enemy to a mere “foe,” devoid of personal identity or shared humanity, underscores the erosion of empathy in conflict. The lines “You shoot a fellow down / You’d treat if met where any bar is” highlight the stark contrast between human connection in civilian life and the cold indifference of warfare. The poem suggests that war transforms individuals into mere instruments of violence, stripping them of their compassion and sense of self.
3. The Economic Roots of Conflict: Hardy implicitly suggests that economic factors can drive individuals into war. The speaker’s revelation that both he and his enemy “were out of work” points to the potential of economic desperation as a catalyst for conflict. The poem implies that war can be a consequence of social inequality and lack of opportunity, as individuals are compelled to enlist for survival. This theme highlights the complex interplay between societal structures and individual choices in the context of war.
4. The Anti-War Sentiment: Hardy’s poem is a powerful anti-war statement that challenges the glorification of conflict. Through its understated and matter-of-fact tone, the poem avoids melodrama and instead focuses on the stark realities of war. By presenting the enemy as a potentially sympathetic figure, Hardy invites readers to question the morality of violence. The poem ultimately serves as a call for peace and understanding, urging readers to consider the human cost of war.

Literary Theories and “The Man He Killed” by Thomas Hardy

• Marxist Theory: The poem “The Man He Killed” by Thomas Hardy can be analyzed through the lens of Marxist theory, which highlights the economic and class-based motivations behind human actions. The speaker’s musings on the circumstances that led the other man to enlist, “He thought he’d ‘list, perhaps, / Off-hand like — just as I — / Was out of work — had sold his traps — / No other reason why” (lines 13-16), suggest that poverty and lack of opportunities drove them both to fight. This echoes Marx’s idea that economic conditions shape human behavior and relationships (Marx, 1848). The speaker’s killing of the other man can be seen as a result of the capitalist system’s exploitation of the working class, forcing them to fight each other for survival. The poem critiques the notion that war is fought for noble causes, instead revealing the underlying economic interests that drive conflict.
• Psychoanalytic Theory: Through the lens of psychoanalytic theory, the poem can be seen as an exploration of the speaker’s psyche and the repressed emotions that arise from killing another human being. The speaker’s repetition of “I shot him dead because — / Because he was my foe” (lines 9-10) can be seen as an attempt to rationalize and justify their actions, but ultimately reveals a sense of guilt and unease. The speaker’s imagination of an alternate scenario where they meet the other man in a peaceful setting, “Had he and I but met / By some old ancient inn” (lines 1-2), suggests a desire for human connection and empathy, repressed by the demands of war. This echoes Freud’s idea that human behavior is shaped by the struggle between conscious and unconscious desires (Freud, 1915).
• Poststructuralist Theory: The poem can also be analyzed through the lens of poststructuralist theory, which highlights the instability and fragmentation of meaning in language. The speaker’s use of irony and contradiction, “Yes; quaint and curious war is! / You shoot a fellow down / You’d treat if met where any bar is” (lines 17-19), subverts the traditional notions of war and enemy, revealing the arbitrariness of these concepts. The poem’s use of language and form can be seen as a reflection of the chaos and disorder of war, challenging the idea of a coherent and objective truth. This echoes Derrida’s idea that language is inherently unstable and subject to multiple interpretations (Derrida, 1967).

Critical Questions about “The Man He Killed” by Thomas Hardy

• Question 1: How does Hardy use form and structure to convey the poem’s message?
• Hardy’s choice of form and structure in “The Man He Killed” is integral to its impact. The poem’s regular rhyme scheme and meter create a deceptively simple and conversational tone, mirroring the casual nature of the speaker’s reflections. This apparent ease belies the poem’s profound exploration of complex themes. The ballad-like structure, with its repetitive refrain-like qualities, emphasizes the cyclical and futile nature of war. The short, declarative sentences contribute to the sense of detachment and irony, as the speaker casually discusses the act of killing another human being.
• Question 2: What is the role of irony in conveying the poem’s message?
• Irony is a central device in “The Man He Killed.” The stark contrast between the imagined camaraderie in a civilian setting and the grim reality of the battlefield creates a powerful ironic effect. The speaker’s casual tone as he describes killing his enemy is deeply ironic, as it highlights the absurdity and senselessness of war. The suggestion that they might have been friends in different circumstances intensifies the tragic irony of their situation. Hardy’s use of irony serves to underscore the poem’s anti-war message and to provoke critical reflection on the nature of conflict.
• Question 3: How does the poem explore the complexities of human nature in the context of war?
• “The Man He Killed” delves into the psychological impact of war on the individual. The speaker’s detached and matter-of-fact tone suggests a dissociation from the act of killing, revealing the dehumanizing effects of conflict. The poem implies that war can suppress empathy and compassion, reducing individuals to mere combatants. At the same time, the underlying sense of regret and confusion suggests a lingering humanity within the speaker. Hardy explores the tension between the inherent capacity for kindness and the destructive forces of war, revealing the psychological complexities experienced by those caught in conflict.
• Question 4: What is the significance of the poem’s ending, and how does it contribute to the overall message?
• The final stanza of “The Man He Killed” offers a poignant reflection on the absurdity of war. The line “quaint and curious war is!” encapsulates the speaker’s bewilderment at the senselessness of the conflict. The image of treating the enemy as a friend in a bar underscores the tragic irony of their situation and highlights the potential for human connection outside the realm of war. The poem concludes on a note of disillusionment, suggesting that war is ultimately a futile and destructive force that undermines human relationships.

Literary Works Similar to “The Man He Killed” by Thomas Hardy

1. “Dulce et Decorum Est” by Wilfred Owen: Both poems critique the horrors of war and challenge the glorification of combat.
2. “The Soldier” by Rupert Brooke: Explores the personal impact of war, though Brooke presents a more romanticized view compared to Hardy’s ironic tone.
3. “Strange Meeting” by Wilfred Owen: Reflects on the tragic irony of killing a potential friend in war, similar to the themes in Hardy’s poem.
4. “The Death of the Ball Turret Gunner” by Randall Jarrell: Both poems depict the senselessness and tragic consequences of war through the eyes of individual soldiers.
5. “Channel Firing” by Thomas Hardy: Another of Hardy’s own works, this poem similarly questions the purpose and futility of war, reflecting on its relentless nature.

Suggested Readings: “The Man He Killed” by Thomas Hardy

1. Armstrong, Tim. Modernism, Technology, and the Body: A Cultural Study. Cambridge University Press, 1998.
2. Seymour-Smith, Martin. Hardy: A Biography. St. Martin’s Press, 1994.
3. Cox, R. G. “The Poetry of Thomas Hardy: A Revaluation.” Critical Quarterly, vol. 4, no. 2, 1962, pp. 97-110.
4. “Thomas Hardy’s Poetry.” The Victorian Web, www.victorianweb.org/authors/hardy/hardyov.html. Accessed 18 Aug. 2024.
5. GHOSH, OINDRILA. “‘QUAINT AND CURIOUS WAR IS’: HARDY AND THE POETS OF THE FIRST WORLD WAR.” The Thomas Hardy Journal, vol. 31, 2015, pp. 130–39. JSTOR, https://www.jstor.org/stable/48568832. Accessed 18 Aug. 2024.
6. Fischer, Jeffrey. “Killing at Close Range: A Study in Intertextuality.” The English Journal, vol. 95, no. 3, 2006, pp. 27–31. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2307/30047040. Accessed 18 Aug. 2024.

Representative Quotations of “The Man He Killed” by Thomas Hardy

Quotation	Context	Theoretical Perspective
“Had he and I but met / By some old ancient inn”	Speaker imagines an alternate scenario where they meet the enemy in a peaceful setting	Marxist Theory: highlights the economic and class-based motivations behind human actions, suggesting that poverty and lack of opportunities led them to fight
“I shot him dead because — / Because he was my foe”	Speaker attempts to justify their actions, citing the enemy’s status as their foe	Psychoanalytic Theory: reveals the speaker’s guilt and unease, and the attempt to rationalize their actions
“He thought he’d ‘list, perhaps, / Off-hand like — just as I —”	Speaker reflects on the circumstances that led the enemy to enlist	Marxist Theory: highlights the economic motivations behind the enemy’s actions, echoing Marx’s idea that economic conditions shape human behavior
“Yes; quaint and curious war is! / You shoot a fellow down / You’d treat if met where any bar is”	Speaker comments on the absurdity and cruelty of war	Poststructuralist Theory: subverts traditional notions of war and enemy, revealing the arbitrariness of these concepts and challenging the idea of a coherent truth
“No other reason why”	Speaker acknowledges the lack of personal animosity or justification for killing the enemy	Psychoanalytic Theory: highlights the speaker’s repressed emotions and the sense of guilt and unease that arises from killing another human being