ours is a tragic age

[longxianchen]

Hi
Here is some words from the novel, Lady Chatterley's Lover:
"Ours is essentially a tragic age, so we refuse to take it tragically. The cataclysm has happened, we are among the ruins, we start to build up new little habitats, to have new little hopes. "

"Ours" is like to mean whatever, such as "our school", "our kids", "our world" and so on. Why didn't the author use "our age"? Only a "ours" is not clear at all.

Thanks a lot.

 

[Wordnip]

It is essentially a matter of literary style. D. H. Lawrence could have written, 'Our age is essentially a tragic one.' However, he would not have written, 'Our age is essentially a tragic age.' Repetition of 'age' is unnecessary.

 

[longxianchen]

Oh, I see. Your explanation is really perfect to me. Thanks so much

 

[sound shift]

The meaning of "ours" is clear from what follows, specifically from the words "tragic age". Lawrence is not the only person to use this structure.