"And Camelot, and starlit Stonehenge...."See in text(Text of the Poem)
Hardy alludes to the fictional Court of Camelot and prehistoric Stonehenge, both of which are British cultural icons. Tales of Camelot’s legendary King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table often still evoke nostalgia for a glorious history of battles won under a remarkable leader. Stonehenge, which is thought to possibly have been used as a burial ground as early as 3000 BCE, also figures prominently in British history. In this context, Hardy’s allusions to Camelot and Stonehenge highlight the stakes of what his nation is preparing to avenge: the foundations of British identity itself.
"the Judgment-day..."See in text(Text of the Poem)
Hardy alludes to the Christian belief in Judgment Day, or the Last Judgment. According to Christian doctrine, Judgment Day involves the end of the world as people know it. God will resurrect the dead and assign every human to spend eternity in heaven or in hell. In this context, the dead are disturbed by gunshots and assume that they are in the process of being resurrected.
