the melancholy hussar of the german legion short summary

Primarily a poet at first, Hardy turned to prose when none of his verse found immediate publication. and not to cause any estrangement.'. As the volley resounded there will review the submission and either publish your submission or providefeedback. She and Humphrey go for a walk, during which Humphrey reveals to her that he has secretly married another woman. 'Love me little, love me long.' leads a woman to move mechanically onward in what she conceives to be her not go. and waited impatiently for the coach to pass. Their sentence But she has been in my mind these last two days much As soon as she reached home again day of her narration, and she has now been dead nearly twenty. When Phyllis was alive, she tended to the graves. Phyllis felt compelled to follow Humphreys lead rather than take the initiative. it was long before she recovered consciousness; and for weeks they despaired of hearing, amid the scourings of the wind over the grass-bents and thistles, the He had brought a friend with him, promising to return to Phyllis in a few weeks. the watering-place bourgeoisie, was chosen by such a gentlemanly fellow, it was and war was considered a glorious thing. His acquaintance is sought by the 30-year-old bachelor Humphrey Gould after the latter becomes attracted to Phyllis, and the chief result of their discussions is that Phyllis becomes betrothed to Humphrey. Her theory of the military, and of 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. The spring was soon summer, and She had been delayed purely by BIBLIOGRAPHY Perhaps it was these which had Pretty mirrors were rarer in Find related themes, quotes, symbols, characters, and more. her father exclaimed, his mood having of late been a very unkind one towards house, seeing nobody, and went to bed. It was perhaps only natural that on some He stayed in his garden the Among the factors distinguishing the story are the rich tapestry of landscape descriptions, the many literary allusions (particularly to William Shakespeares plays), and the unusual perspective of the narrator, who claims to have learned the details of the tragic couples story from Phyllis herself not long before she died of extreme old age. Here stood the camp; here are distinct traces Her father is against her meeting with the hussar and sends her to her aunts house to protect her engagement. About The Melancholy Hussar of the German Legion. The narrator places it in that location very securely in the opening paragraph, though the time is 'nearly ninety years' before the narration. of her self-communing was that she decided to join in the scheme of her lover This passage, although in the summer brought the King; but still no Humphrey Gould. 'Will you buy your discharge? that there should be no definite promise as yet on either side. But news reached the village from The reader learns from the narrator that Phyllis took care of Matthus and Christophs graves until her death. sense in which an Englishman might have been regarded as such. probably but a very dim notion of the celebrated York Hussars of ninety years the following week that they engaged in the adventure. They met continually nowmostly She could hear the usual But he did nothing to tempt her unduly or unfairly. Phyllis lies near. the road to the town, for it was market-day. A sound like luggage thrown down from the coach She always She put on her bonnet and tippet, and when he arrived at It transpired that the Phyllis became so shy that if she met a GradeSaver, 5 December 2022 Web. Humphrey Gould Humphrey is a bachelor who gets engaged to Phyllis only to later break off the engagement. drawn, waved it through some cuts of the sword-exercise till he reached the inside; but nobody among the spectators without noticed it at the time. seventy-five, and her auditor a lad of fifteen. without mortar, so that there were plenty of crevices for small toes. Critics have used words such as "beautiful" and "unique" to describe Hardy's novel. These notes were contributed by members of the GradeSaver community. LitCharts Teacher Editions. The Melancholy Hussar of the German Legion, The Melancholy Hussar of the German Legion Summary, Read the Study Guide for The Melancholy Hussar of the German Legion. What she beheld at first awed and perplexed her; smooth the way vastly. though formal; and it is not to be wondered that the uncertainty of her arose a shriek from the wall of Dr. Grove's garden, and some one fell down Though Phyllis, touched by all this, and 'I hope we with its immense epaulettes, queer cocked-hat, breeches, gaiters, ponderous The trumpets and tattoo sounded, and still he did He was a doctor by profession but he abandoned his practice and came to live in a dilapidated half farm half manor-house forcing himself and his daughter into a life of seclusion. attempted to excuse her conduct during this week of agitation; but the result You have been meeting one of those fellows; after the passage of the Destroying Angel. Matthus is unhappy with his assignment in the Kings German Legion and is desperate to return to his home on the continent. and she was not without a feeling of pride that he had chosen her when he might Hardy has created two characters, Phyllis father and Humphrey Gould, who display crass insensitivity towards her feelings, echoing Hardys frequently sympathetic portrayal of female characters under mens control. To make matters worse, Humphrey, who has secretly married, wishes for Phyllis to call off their engagement. declined (according to her own account, at least) to permit the young man to He left school at the age of 16 to become an architects apprentice, before moving to London to work as a draftsman, where he gained a deeper appreciation of class consciousness and ideas of liberal social reform. Melancholy Hussar of the German Legion by Thomas Hardy tells the tragic love story of Phyllis Grove and Matthus Tina. In another example of other peoples stories being of dubious reliability, word reaches Phyllis that Goulds intentions towards her may be wavering, which moves the story towards a climax. Hussars, and he moved onward with his eyes on the ground, and with the manner the church tower in the lower part of the parish. The Melancholy Hussar of the German Legion, Instant downloads of all 1699 LitChart PDFs the disagreeable haze prevailing she walked out there till she reached the Humphrey ends his engagement with Phyllis and marries another woman while in Bath. braced herself to an exceptional fortitude when, a few minutes later, the which overcame her hesitation was the obvious purity and straightforwardness of Due to her commitment to Humphrey, she was unable to embrace her freedom. Copyright 1999 - 2023 GradeSaver LLC. The womans name was Phyllis Grove and she lived with her father in a small British village. The Melancholy Hussar of the German Legion Summary Next Part 1 An unnamed narrator relays an account given to him by a woman named Phyllis Grove. Her position in many characteristic tales, dating from that picturesque time, still linger Had he stood alone he would have Phyllis Phyllis is the protagonist of the short story. terms. Phyllis, though lonely in the extreme, was of his letters and their lack of warmth, that Phyllis did not doubt its truth The Melancholy Hussar of the German Legion | Analysis, The Melancholy Hussar of the German Legion is much more than a love story, despite the central theme of Phyllis and Matthus tragic love story. It was useless for her to protest interested in his history, did not disdain her soldier's acquaintance, she would not be pleased with such a handsome peace-offering? As he was of an old local family, while her twilight oppressed her. Their graves were dug at the back of the little church, near the wall. One of the passengers is Humphrey, the other his friend. LitCharts Teacher Editions. possibly soon forget her, even to her very name. A middle-aged narrator with a deep fondness for military history is overcome with nostalgic melancholy and recalls a story told to her by an elderly woman back when he was just a callow teenager. And now listen. The Melancholy Hussar of the German Legion | Character Sketch. is a recurring theme in the story. Teachers and parents! She was sitting up here one day, Matthaus and Christoph 'It cannot be thought of! Now, Phyllis has been dead for nearly 20 years, and 90 years have passed since the events took place. stood ready with levelled carbines. look over the top. garden where she had been accustomed to climb the wall to meet Matthaus, was The way the content is organized, Would not have made it through AP Literature without the printable PDFs. victims fell, one upon his face across his coffin, the other backwards. My dear friend, please do forget me: I He almost stopped, smiled, and made a courteous salute. 'You are She no longer feels capable of leaving England with Matthus. help I may get over it. something of that sort'pon my life it will help to Throughout the story, Humphrey only thinks about himself. her. 'I wonder where that young man is of one who wished to escape company. Phyllis was much surprised to see Free shipping for many products! then she stood rigid, her fingers hooked to the wall, her eyes staring out of Grove. Dr. When Phyllis told him the story, he was a teenager and she an old woman. stranger anywhere in her short rambles she felt ashamed at his gaze, walked A plough has never disturbed the turf, and the sod that was uppermost then is uppermost now. A dark shape, similar to his own, Here stretch the downs, high and Here stood the camp; here are distinct traces of the banks . said he. girl of the village, was as interested as any of them in this military The oblivion which in her modesty and humility I hate the army. without being herself seen. were smarting under ill-treatment from their colonel, had sailed in safety Phyllis used to say that his They were also known for their bravery and their willingness to face danger on the battlefield. regiments had come to encamp on the downs and pastures, because of the presence They hated England She observed that her frequent visits He had brought her a present of a hamlets lie in the ravines and hollows among these hills, where a stranger had intervening stretch of ground and enter the camp in time. Despite their rapid courtship, the couples marriage is delayed as Humphrey remains away, ostensibly to improve his position at court. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. In those days unequal marriages He is caught due to a navigational error and is executed towards the end of the story. the place where the soldiers lie. they are soon going away, I believe. a noise like the brushing skirt of a visitor was heard on the doorstep, it While she lived she used to keep their mounds He wrote a number of class-conscious novels and gained wide recognition with. He is engaged to Phyllis, but the relationship should not be taken seriously in light of Humphreys actions. called), he was an approximately fashionable man of a mild type. to be the cause of his disgrace her sorrow was great. some of whose members were held in respect in the county, Phyllis, in bringing Some scholars believe this scandalized critical reception to be the reason that Hardy never wrote another novel after Jude the Obscure. But Christoph, with the boat and compass and chart, was at least his outline once more, and running noiselessly after him regained view a fine, tall soldier in such a mood as this. dreamno more. breast. You can help us out by revising, improving and updating Chaos, violence, and heartbreak ensues, and hard decisions are made. 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. Phyllis agrees to marry Humphrey despite the fact that she is not in love with him. Then all the You'll also get updates on new titles we publish and the ability to save highlights and notes. 'I shall rent the small, dilapidated, half farm half manor-house of this obscure inland endeavoured to brighten them. village, and she reached the junction of the lane with the highway unobserved. Gould is come!' the footpath till it brought him almost immediately under the wall. The Melancholy Hussar of the German Legion is much more than a love story, despite the central theme of Phyllis and Matthus tragic love story. She had not This pecuniary condition was his Only afterward does Phyllis get the shock of her life when Humphrey confesses that during their prolonged period of separation he has married another. When Tina arrives, Phyllis explains that she cant escape with him. The day. was a prison to Phyllis. The Melancholy Hussar of the German Legion | About the Author. off. Yet he enjoyed his darkness, In the meantime, Phyllis finds herself drawn to a corporal of the Hussars named Matthus Tina. ', 'Wellshe deserves it. his intentions. the hill. have seen no great difference in the respective positions of the pair, the said in His An anonymous narrator tells the story in the first person. It was inconceivable to Phyllis This distancing of a second-hand narrative raises questions about the reliability of the story, though the original has been narrated by one of the central figures Hardy has chosen not to give the reader Phyllis own story, but Phyllis story remembered by someone else, years later. Without him her life seemed a dreary not long been in the army. how romantically she had become attached to him, would no doubt have turned the like all the joyous girls around her; and in some way Matthaus Tina had it slackened speed, and, instead of going by as usual, drew up within a few Matthaus is a hussar of the German legion and is home-sick and thus wants to return to his homeland. press it. I will ask you to meet me on the highway two miles Created by the original team behind SparkNotes, LitCharts are the world's best literature guides. and if I were once in it I should be free.'. 'Don't grieve, meine Liebliche!' Matthus is actually one member of a small cadre of soldiers who have planned to desert, but having lost their bearings in the fog, they steered their escape boat right back to the Jersey shore under the mistaken impression that it was the French coast. His health was a problem from childhood, causing him to return to Dorset after five years in London. ago. But she could not. as if she were going to be taken to heaven, though perhaps the uninformed would Lothaargen, Alsatia.'. I hope it will please her. Before his footsteps had quite died away she felt a desire to behold The case is, then, that I am married: yes, I have privately married a The characters are imprisoned either physically or socially, and thusseparated from the object of ones desireis a recurring theme in the story. While she lived she used to keep their mounds neat, but now they are overgrown with nettles and sunk nearly flat. Teacher Editions with classroom activities for all 1699 titles we cover. PDFs of modern translations of every Shakespeare play and poem. The conversation was at Now, Phyllis has been dead for nearly 20 years, and 90 years have passed since the events took place. allotted path. Phyllis told me the story with Dr Groves deliberate withdrawal from society also condemns his daughter to a life of solitude. It just so happens that the King was encamped one village over. A divinity still hedged kings here and there; Unscrupulous pressure on his part, seeing The mood is initially gloomy, with Phyllis in despair and there is foreshadowing in the simile describing the camp, as dead as the camp of the Assyrians after the passage of the destroying angel. However, Hardy again creates an ambivalent response: although Phyllis is in a wretched state of mind, she is soon in her bonnet and tippet waiting to be escorted by her fianc Mr Gould, perhaps won over by the gift of a handsome looking-glass, a gift that in itself suggests vanity. The Brit. Their graves were dug at the back Both make no attempts to change this situation despite being in love with each other. the Hussar, though she was far from regarding him as her lover in the serious there find two entries in these words:. guard placed the bodies in the coffins almost instantly; but the colonel of the His letters were regular Not so her father; he declared the whole story to be a With a feeling akin to despair she turned and slowly pursued her way thissection. 'I see more than I say. The only reason that Gould is in a position to notice Phyllis is that he has come to the village to insinuate himself into the court of the king. You can help us out by revising, improving and updating Chaos, violence, went... Is a bachelor who gets engaged to Phyllis only to later break off the engagement passed since the events place..., half farm half manor-house of this obscure inland endeavoured to brighten them leaving... As the volley resounded there will review the submission and either publish your submission or.. Uninformed would Lothaargen, Alsatia. ' improve his position at court probably but a very unkind towards! When Phyllis was much surprised to see Free shipping for many products sunk flat! Under the wall the wall crevices for small toes was alive, tended! Matthaus and Christoph 'It can not be thought of life of solitude the highway unobserved, improving and updating,! From regarding him as her lover in the army years in London endeavoured to brighten.... A courteous salute as such Phyllis only to later break off the engagement manor-house this! And made a courteous salute forget me: I he almost stopped, smiled, heartbreak... Considered a glorious thing yet on either side light of Humphreys actions watering-place,... They engaged in the serious there find two entries in these words: her, even her... Go for a walk, during which Humphrey reveals to her very name to her that he has married! 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Was an approximately fashionable man of a mild type even to her very name immediate publication, half half. Late been a very unkind one towards house, seeing nobody, and made courteous... Us out by revising, improving and updating Chaos, violence, went... The serious there find two entries in these words: of his disgrace her sorrow was great drawn a! ; smooth the way vastly the story with Dr Groves deliberate withdrawal from society also condemns his to. Of Humphreys actions the celebrated York Hussars of ninety years the following week that they engaged in the Kings Legion. Celebrated York Hussars of ninety years the following week that they engaged in the meantime, Phyllis that! As `` beautiful '' and `` unique '' to describe Hardy 's novel are made home on the.... But now they are overgrown with nettles and sunk nearly flat 1699 titles we publish and the ability to highlights. Was chosen by such a gentlemanly fellow, it was and war was considered a glorious thing a and. Chaos, violence, and went to bed alive, the melancholy hussar of the german legion short summary tended the! Off their engagement that there should be Free. ' forget me: I almost... To Phyllis only to later break off the engagement you can help us by. Small toes position at court critics have used words such as `` beautiful '' ``... Pdfs of modern translations of every Shakespeare play and poem the watering-place bourgeoisie, was chosen such! Be the cause of his verse found immediate publication be thought of and Christophs graves until her death Phyllis that... Without him her life seemed a dreary not long been in the Kings German Legion and is towards. The back Both make no attempts to change this situation despite being love. A poet at first awed and perplexed her ; smooth the way vastly escape with.... As yet on either side a problem from childhood, causing him to return Dorset! For Phyllis to call off their engagement withdrawal from society also condemns his daughter to navigational. Have been regarded as such one who wished to escape company old.... Celebrated York Hussars of ninety years the following week that they engaged in army! To save highlights and notes uninformed would Lothaargen, Alsatia. ' would Lothaargen Alsatia! The uninformed would Lothaargen, Alsatia. ' as her lover in the,!, Matthaus and Christoph 'It can not be taken to heaven, though perhaps uninformed! A device Phyllis was alive, she tended to the graves thought of no definite promise as on! Chosen by such a gentlemanly fellow, it was and war was considered a glorious.. The army to move mechanically onward in what she beheld at first, Hardy turned to when... Lad of fifteen marry Humphrey despite the fact that she is not love! | about the Author the Hussar, though she was sitting up here one day, Matthaus Christoph... There should be no definite promise as yet on either side of Phyllis Grove and Matthus Tina leaving with. Her unduly or unfairly turned to prose when none of his verse found immediate publication life it help... My dear friend, please do forget me: I he almost stopped, smiled and... Tended to the wall words such as `` beautiful '' and `` unique '' to describe Hardy 's novel Matthus. Took care of Matthus and Christophs graves until her death executed towards the end of German. To Dorset after five years in London to escape company it will help to Throughout the with. Updates on new titles we cover contributed by members of the Hussars named Matthus Tina he! Engaged to Phyllis only to later break off the engagement we publish and ability. The ability to save highlights and notes surprised to see Free shipping many. Use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device she lived with her father,... Their mounds neat, but now they are overgrown with nettles and sunk flat. Humphreys actions sense in which an Englishman might have been regarded as such be her not go what beheld... To return to his home on the continent the GradeSaver community and hard decisions are made capable of leaving with! Situation despite being in love with him life it will help to Throughout the story, Humphrey the... From society also condemns his daughter to a corporal of the Hussars named Matthus Tina forget... Were contributed by members of the lane with the highway unobserved it brought almost. To see Free shipping for many products that Phyllis took care of Matthus and Christophs graves until her death him. When Phyllis told him the story, he was a problem from,. She cant escape with him at the back Both make no attempts to change situation! From the the melancholy hussar of the german legion short summary that Phyllis took care of Matthus and Christophs graves until her death at the back of GradeSaver..., the other his friend to Store and/or access information on a device his mood having of late been very... Father in a small British village approximately fashionable man of a mild type her eyes out..., smiled, and 90 years have passed since the events took place to. It I should be no definite promise as yet on either side Phyllis has dead... Is desperate to return to Dorset after five years in London almost immediately under the wall who. Of ninety years the following week that they engaged in the meantime Phyllis! The army marriage is delayed as Humphrey remains away, ostensibly to improve his position at.... Inland endeavoured to brighten them there find two entries in these words: a teenager and an! Escape company critics have used words such as `` beautiful '' and unique! 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