English

Areli Pena

9 October, 01:03

Which two sets of lines in this excerpt from Thomas Hardy's "The Darkling Thrush" signify hope in the midst of despair?

1) And Winter's dregs made desolate

The weakening eye of day.

The tangled bine-stems scored the sky

2) And all mankind that haunted nigh

Had sought their household fires.

3) The ancient pulse of germ and birth

Was shrunken hard and dry,

4) At once a voice arose among

The bleak twigs overhead

In a full-hearted evensong

5) An aged thrust, frail, gaunt, and small,

In blast-beruffled plume,

6) Had chosen thus to fling his soul

Upon the growing gloom.