“Heredity” by Thomas Hardy
MS / Science
Time, Eternity, Heredity
Students create a table (attached) of inherited traits evident in their classmates,
including: (1) ability to roll tongue (2) attached or unattached earlobes, (3) handedness
(4) dimples (5) freckles (6) curly hair (7) hand clasping (which thumb is on top)
Distribute the text, and have participants number the lines 1-12. Read the poem aloud
to students. Ask them to underline words they do not know.
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This seminar fits well within a study or discussion of the concept of heredity and
genetics.
Author: Thomas Hardy, 1840-1928, is recognized as one of the greatest English poets
of the 20th century. During his lifetime, he was better known for his novels although
he considered himself first a poet. He was married twice, but never had any children.
A well-known quote by Hardy: Time changes everything except something within us
which is always surprised by change.
Students read the poem in pairs and share with one another the words they had
identified as challenging. Ask them to discuss the use of context clues to attempt to gain
meaning. In a whole group setting, elicit the words they identify on the board, and
provide or mine students for definitions of the unknown words, being sure to include:
perish, projecting, trait, trace, anon, oblivion, heir, despise, span, heeds.
Use the definitions you created to rewrite Hardy’s poem. Substitute the definitions you
came up with in place of the following words: perishes (line 2); projecting, trait, trace
(line 3); anon (line 4), oblivion (line 6); years-heired (line 7); span (line 9), heeds (line
12).
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 What is heredity? Turn and talk to the person next to you and prepare an
answer to this question. (round-robin response)
 Whose voice is speaking in the poem? Who is “I” in lines 1, 2, and 10?
 What is Hardy referring to in lines 5 and 6 where he writes “leaping from
place to place over oblivion?”
 How can “curve and voice and eye despise the human span of
endurance?”
 What does the poem say about eternity?
 What aspects of heredity does Hardy describe?

In what ways does this poem make you think about your own heredity?
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When you were younger, you probably wondered why you looked the way you do. How
would you explain heredity to a younger child? Look at the definition you and your
partner created at the beginning of seminar. Revise it so that it could be easily
understood by a third grader.
After reading “Heredity,” the poem by Thomas Hardy, write an original poem in which
you define heredity and explain why certain traits occur in families for generations.
Write your poem so that it can be understood by a younger audience.
(LDC Task#:
12
)
Brainstorm a list of genetic traits that are passed down in families. Use ideas from the
poem, the Launch and the seminar discussion.
Explain that students’ poems will include a definition of heredity, and examples of
inherited traits. Without getting too scientific for younger children, they will also explain
why the concept of heredity occurs within families.
Ask students to create a brief outline to help plan their writing. They should decide what
order they will use to organize the ideas that will be presented in their poem.
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Challenge all students to create the first draft of their poem.
Provide the following directions: You should partner with a peer to share your writing
aloud. Ask your partner to give feedback on the ideas you presented, as well as the
structure of your poem.
The listener should verify and comment firstly whether the reader has the required
definition and examples, and whether it can be understood by a younger child.
Secondly, the listener should listen for whether there are there places where word
choices could make their poetry more lyrical or rhythmic?
Students should make changes based on their partner’s feedback or ideas gained
through the process.
Ask students to neatly create a final copy of their heredity poem. As a class, share the
poems with a younger group who is also exploring these scientific concepts.
Charlotte Vlasis
Chattanooga School for the Liberal Arts (retired)
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“Heredity” by Thomas Hardy
I am the family face;
Flesh perishes, I live on,
Projecting trait and trace
Through time to times anon,
And leaping from place to place
Over oblivion.
The years-heired feature that can
In curve and voice and eye
Despise the human span
Of endurance--that is I;
The eternal thing in man
That heeds no call to die.
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Inherited Traits Found in Our Class
List your classmates by initials. Put an “x” in the box for each inherited trait you observe.
Initials
Rolls
tongue
Lefthanded
Attached
earlobes
Dimples
Freckles
Curly
hair
Clasps hands
with right thumb
on top
Which inherited traits are most common in our class?
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