Maryann, the name Hodge is earthy, peasant in a way the name Vaughn is not. Dr Johnson's cat was Hodge. Vaugh(a)n is a metaphysical poet. Also Hodge clumps along but Vaughn flits.
And a kopje crest ties the poem to a real place and a real time.
Homely doesn't just mean pertaining to home. Hodge is a thickset, plain sort of a boy, rather like Rimbaud in his photographs, though I am sure he did not write poetry..
North and South - I do think American students might be expected to know tat an English poet is not referring to the American Civil War. An Atlas might help.
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