Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Thomas Hood: Gnan Srishti School of Excellence
Thomas Hood: Gnan Srishti School of Excellence
Thomas Hood
In another annual called the Gem appeared the verse story of Eugene Aram. Hood started a magazine in his
own name, mainly sustained by his own activity. He did the work from a sick-bed from which he never
rose, and there also composed well-known poems such as "The Song of the Shirt", which appeared
anonymously in the Christmas number of Punch, 1843 and was immediately reprinted in The Times and
other newspapers across Europe. He died on 3 May 1845, London, United Kingdom. The house where
Hood died, No. 28 Finchley Road, St John's Wood, now has a blue plaque.
SYNONYMS
2. How would you describe the general picture painted by the poet? Is it a cheerful one?
Ans: The poem describes the month, November (in late autumn), in which there are a lot of negatives indicated
by no. The poet describes this season as being one without warmth or cheerfulness. It has none of the other
aspects that feature in the other months of the year. However, he does this in a cheerful way, so the poem is not
depressing or sad. In other words, the poem describes a typical British or Western season, autumn, just before
winter sets in. There are no leaves on the trees and the animals have migrated or gone into hibernation.
2. why do you think the phrase 'no go 'is put in inverted commas while others example 'no mail' are not. (Is
there another expression in inverted commas?)
Ans: ‘No go’ is put in inverted commas, because it is an expression on its own. It means a failure or fiasco. No
mail, however, means that there is no mail! The other expression in the poem is a colloquial one, ‘t’other side
the way’, hence the inverted commas.
The poem is also known as "November." November is a dreary time of year in England. It is late fall and there is
scant sunshine.
No sun—no moon! (There is little sunshine in November and you can't even see the moon)
No morn—no noon—
No dawn—
No sky—no earthly view—
No distance looking blue— (There seem to be no blue skies in November)
No road—no street—no “t’other side the way”— (Streets are obscured by the famous London fog)
No end to any Row— (the word "Row" is part of the name of some streets in England; here, it could
refer to Rotten Row, which is connected to Hyde Park, where the rich liked to go horse-riding in the 18th and
19th Centuries. Whether it is Savile Row, known for its excellent men's tailoring, or Rotten Row or
Paternoster Row, one can't see the end of any street in the fog)
No news from any foreign coast— (this fog prevents ships arriving with news from foreign regions)
No park—no ring—no afternoon gentility—
No shade, no shine, no butterflies, no bees, (certainly there are no butterflies and none of the shine
of summer)
No fruits, no flowers, no leaves, no birds, (November is a dead month where no fruits and flowers
and birds can thrive) November!
Write your own poem about a month of the year. The tone, verse format, rhyme scheme, etc., are
up to you. (Refer page 26 to begin your creativity)
*Encourage the students to think creatively and formulate their own answers.