Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"The Coronation" is a poem by Thomas Hardy, first published in 1911. The poem reflects on the pomp and ceremony of the coronation of King George V and Queen Mary, and contrasts this with the poverty and suffering of the working classes.

The poem is structured as a series of six stanzas, each of which describes a different aspect of the coronation. In the first stanza, the speaker describes the elaborate preparations for the coronation, including the erection of grandstands and the arrival of dignitaries.

In the second stanza, the speaker contrasts the opulence of the coronation with the poverty and hardship of the working classes, suggesting that the pageantry of the coronation is a cruel mockery of the struggles of ordinary people.

In the third stanza, the speaker reflects on the history of the monarchy, and suggests that the coronation is a continuation of a long tradition of oppression and inequality.

In the fourth stanza, the speaker describes the crowds of people who have gathered to witness the coronation, and suggests that they are blinded by the spectacle and unaware of the deeper social and political issues at play.

In the final stanzas, the speaker reflects on the transience of human achievement and power, and suggests that the grandeur of the coronation is ultimately meaningless in the face of the larger issues of human suffering and injustice.

Overall, "The Coronation" is a powerful and biting commentary on the social and political issues of early twentieth-century England. Through his use of vivid language and contrast, Hardy exposes the hypocrisy and inequality of the British monarchy, and offers a critique of the ways in which the spectacle of power and wealth can obscure the deeper issues of human suffering and injustice.