How we cite our quotes: Citations follow this format: (Book.Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #7
The lad was in good spirits that day, for the fifth of November had again come round. [...] For two successive years his mistress had seemed to take pleasure in lighting a bonfire [...]. (5.5.8)
We get occasional reminders of the date and the time of year throughout the novel, which helps remind us how much has changed for our characters over just one year. There's an idea of cyclical, or repeating, time here as well that ties into some of the themes surrounding the heath. November 5th comes "round" as it always does, and the heath seems to just cycle endlessly through the seasons.
Quote #8
[B]ut the winter solstice, having stealthily come on, the lowness of the sun caused the hour to seem later than it actually was, there being little here to remind an inhabitant that he must unlearn his summer experience of the sky as a dial. (2.1.3)
The diction here implies that winter and darkness are sneaky, with words like "stealthily" and "seem later." So the diction personifies winter and night by giving them human qualities. We also like the imagery of the earth itself as a clock for the people of Egdon – light and the sky are their "dial," which is an old-fashioned way of telling time.
Quote #9
"I have come to keep a school as near to Egdon as possible [...]."
"Tis good-hearted of the young man," said another, "But, for my part, I think he had better mind his business." (3.1.27-9)
This parting shot by one of the heath residents is a bit ominous, but also very funny. Poor Clym comes off as highly deluded here since he thinks that people will be very receptive towards his new school.