Ruth Dallas, ‘Deep in the Hills’

Introduction to ‘Deep in the Hills’

Welcome to your study guide for ‘Deep in the Hills’ by Ruth Dallas! This poem is a beautiful and reflective piece found in the Songs of Ourselves Volume 3 collection for the 2028 syllabus. In this poem, Dallas takes us on a journey into a remote, mountainous landscape. It is not just a description of scenery; it is an exploration of how it feels to be tiny and temporary in the face of nature’s massive, ancient power.

Why is this poem important? It helps us think about our relationship with the world around us. For students of all levels, the key is to look past the "description" and find the "emotions" hidden in the rocks and wind of the hills.

Understanding the "Big Ideas" (Themes)

To do well in your IGCSE Literature exam, you need to understand the AO2 (Meanings and Ideas). Here are the main themes Ruth Dallas explores:

1. The Power and Permanence of Nature

The hills in this poem are presented as something that has existed long before humans and will exist long after we are gone. They are timeless. While humans are busy and loud, the hills are silent and enduring. Dallas uses imagery to show that the landscape is "deep" and "old," making the reader feel the weight of time.

2. Human Solitude and Insignificance

When the speaker is "deep in the hills," they are away from the comforts of the city. This solitude (being alone) can be both peaceful and a little bit scary. The poem suggests that when we are alone in nature, we realize how small we really are.

3. The Sensory Experience

Dallas doesn't just tell us about the hills; she makes us feel them. She uses sensory imagery—sounds, sights, and even the feeling of the air—to bring the setting to life. Pay attention to how she describes the silence or the specific way light hits the land.

Key Takeaway: The poem is a contrast between the temporary life of a human and the eternal life of the earth.

Analyzing the Poet’s Tools (AO3: Language, Structure, and Form)

This is where you earn marks for AO3 by looking at how the poet writes. Don't worry if this seems tricky; just look for these specific "tools":

Language and Diction

Dallas chooses her words carefully to create a specific mood.
• Adjectives: Look for words that describe the "bones" of the land or the "stony" silence. These words make the hills seem tough and unmoving.
• Verbs: Notice how the elements (like the wind or the light) "act" on the hills. Sometimes the landscape seems alive, almost like a sleeping giant.

Personification

The poet often uses personification—giving human qualities to non-human things. For example, the hills might seem to have "shoulders" or "faces." This helps the reader relate to the landscape, even though it is vast and indifferent to us.

Structure and Rhythm

The way the poem looks on the page matters!
• Enjambment: This is when a sentence continues from one line to the next without a pause. It can mimic the rolling shape of the hills or the constant blowing of the wind.
• Stanza Breaks: These often mark a shift in the speaker's thoughts—perhaps moving from looking at the distance to looking at something right at their feet.

Did you know? Ruth Dallas was a New Zealand poet. New Zealand is famous for its dramatic, rugged mountains and "big" landscapes. Knowing this helps us understand why her descriptions feel so raw and authentic.

Step-by-Step Analysis Tips

When you are sitting in the exam (Paper 1), follow these steps to build a great answer:

Step 1: Identify the mood. Is it peaceful? Lonely? Majestic? Use evidence (a short quote or reference) to prove it.
Step 2: Look for contrasts. Does the poet talk about "soft" things (like grass or breath) against "hard" things (like rock or ice)? This shows the struggle between life and the environment.
Step 3: Connect to the reader. How does the poem make you feel? This is your AO4 (Personal Response). Do you feel comforted by the hills' permanence, or does it make you feel small?

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Mistake 1: Just summarizing. Don't just say "The poet goes to the hills and sees rocks." Instead, say "The poet uses stony imagery to emphasize the harshness of the environment."
• Mistake 2: Ignoring the title. The word "Deep" suggests more than just distance; it suggests being "inside" something or a feeling of intensity.
• Mistake 3: Long quotes. Remember the syllabus rule! Keep your quotes short and snappy (under ten words) so you can spend more time analyzing them.

Quick Review: Key Terms

• Solitude: The state of being alone, often a major theme in nature poetry.
• Permanence: The quality of lasting forever (like the hills).
• Sensory Imagery: Language that appeals to the five senses.
• Indifference: The idea that nature doesn't care about human problems.

Final Encouragement: Poetry like 'Deep in the Hills' is meant to be experienced. Imagine yourself standing on a high ridge with the wind in your hair and no one else around for miles. That feeling is exactly what Ruth Dallas is trying to capture with her words!

Note: For more poems in this section, you might want to look at John Clare’s ‘Insects’ or Alice Oswald’s ‘Fox’ to see how other poets handle the theme of nature.