Journal of Global Humanities and Social Sciences 2737-5374 2737-5382 BONI FUTURE DIGITAL PUBLISHING CO.,LIMITED https://ojs.bonfuturepress.com/index.php/GHSS/article/view/1895 6 6 2025 2025-10-15 The Art of Supernaturalist Narrative in Thomas Hardy's Novels Xie Mei The artistic achievement of Thomas Hardy’s novels is manifested not only in their rich Victorian cultural connotations—conveyed through masterful scene-painting and vivid characterizations—but also in his distinctive natural narrative style and the consistently poetic tone with which he meditates on lived experience and the surrounding world. In Hardy’s literary universe, nature is imbued with emotions, moods, and even intentions reminiscent of humans. Particularly noteworthy is his portrayal of animals, which leaves a lasting and profound impression. These creatures share a peculiar intimacy with the human protagonists, often engaging in a form of tacit communication that transcends the ordinary. Through this transcendental narrative strategy—projecting human emotions onto natural entities and refracting human consciousness, feelings, and personalities through animal depictions—Hardy vividly illuminates the inner psychological landscapes of his characters while simultaneously offering penetrating insights into the transformations of his era. Thomas Hardy,novels,supernaturalist,narrative 10.61360/BoniGHSS252018950608

Hardy, T. (1872). Under the greenwood tree. Oxford University Press. Hardy, T. (1873). A pair of blue eyes. Oxford University Press. Hardy, T. (1878). The return of the native. Oxford University Press. Hardy, T. (1886). The mayor of Casterbridge. Oxford University Press. Hardy, T. (1887). The woodlanders. Oxford University Press. Hardy, T. (1891). Tess of the d'Urbervilles. Oxford University Press. Lévy-Bruhl, L. (2014). Primitive thinking (Y. Ding, Trans.). The Commercial Press. (Original work published 1922). p. 71. Nie, Z. Z. (2014). Collected studies on Thomas Hardy. Yilin Press. pp. 95-120. Björk, L. A. (1985). The literary notebooks of Thomas Hardy (Vol. 2). Macmillan. p. 49. Toynbee, A. (2000). Greek civilization (Q. Ge, Trans.). The Commercial Press. (Original work published 1957). p. 10. Brandes, G. (2018). Main currents in 19th century literature: Vol. 4. Naturalism in England. People’s Literature Publishing House. p. 109.