Point of View

"The Convergence of the Twain" is written in third person omniscient perspective. It is clear to readers that the anonymous speaker knows all, and yet they reveal their knowledge only gradually. This method helps to establish a sense of mystery and suspense that prevails throughout the poem. Indeed, it is not until the final stanzas that Hardy's contrast between Titanic and Iceberg establishes a visceral, literal significance. While perspective mode does not shift at any point, there are occasional interjections given to the ship itself, the moon-eyed fish of line fifteen and – most balefully – stanza eleven's Spinner of the Years. These lines of dialogue interrupt the otherwise euphonious, lyrical cadence of the poem, thereby bringing its abstract reflections down to earth. Readers are jolted out of the philosophical sensibility and into a first-hand exploration of real-life events. Additionally, third person perspective establishes the speaker's personal...