Question

What is the overall tone of this poem? Hap by Thomas Hardy If but some vengeful god would call to me From up the sky, and laugh: “Thou suffering thing, Know that thy sorrow is my ecstasy, That thy love’s loss is my hate’s profiting!” Then would I bear, and clench myself, and die, Steeled by the sense of ire unmerited; Half-eased, too, that a Powerfuller than I Had willed and meted me the tears I shed. But not so. How arrives it joy lies slain, And why unblooms the best hope ever sown? —Crass Casualty obstructs the sun and rain, And dicing Time for gladness casts a moan…. These purblind Doomsters had as readily strown Blisses about my pilgrimage as pain. reflective fierce pessimistic vengeful

Answer 1

If you are taking this on plato the correct answer is (C) Pessimistic

Answer 2

In Thomas Hardy's Hap, the speaker ponders about how it would be more bearable to think that all of his misfortunes happen because a greater power has decided so, than the reality (by his perspective) which is that his bad luck in life was a result of random chance and unfortunate coincidence. 

Because of his ponderance, we could say that this poem shows a reflective speaker. While some people think that this shows a pessimist thinker, Hardy was known for his realistic vision of life.

Therefore, your best answer is reflective.