Thomas Hardy
Lesson plans and teaching ideas

|Biography and Background| |Far from the Madding Crowd| |Jude the Obscure| |The Mayor of Casterbridge| |The Return of the Native| |Tess of the d'Urbervilles| |Poetry| |Short Stories|

Biography and Background

Thomas Hardy
This page from the Victorian Web provides links to biography, background information, analysis of themes and images, and more.

Thomas Hardy Resource Library
Texts, biography, pictures, information about Dorset, and other links. Check out the TrueType font based on Hardy's handwriting.

Thomas Hardy's Dorset
A map from Britain Express.

Far from the Madding Crowd

Illustrations for Far from the Madding Crowd
Illustrations and commentary.

Jude the Obscure

Jude the Obscure
Questions for analysis and discussion.

Understanding Jude the Obscure
An extensive collection of links to background information.

The Mayor of Casterbridge

The Mayor of Casterbridge
This 35-page document addresses 225 vocabulary words drawn from the novel. Adobe Reader or compatible application required for access.

The Return of the Native

The Return of the Native
This 31-page document addresses 209 vocabulary words drawn from the novel. Adobe Reader or compatible application required for access.

Tess of the d'Urbervilles

Tess of the d'Urbervilles
This 30-page document addresses 200 vocabulary words drawn from the novel. Adobe Reader or compatible application required for access.

Poetry

Assignment 2: The Soldier
Using Hardy's "The Man he Killed," Yeats' "An Irish Airman Foresees his Death," and Brooke's "The Soldier," students explore character traits of the speakers.

"I Look into my Glass"
Downloadable audio file and text of the poem.

"The Oxen"
Background, guiding questions and answers.

Thomas Hardy's Poetry
This study guide covers "The Man he Killed" and other war poems, poetry about Hardy's first wife such as "The Going," and an assortment of other poems, including "The Darkling Thrush." Includes analysis and questions for discussion and writing.

Short Stories

"The Withered Arm" by Thomas Hardy
Several activities to support study of the story. Click on the PDF icon for access to free materials. Requires Adobe Reader or compatible application for access.