"Those Winter Sundays" is a poem written by Robert Hayden that uses vivid imagery to portray the love and sacrifice of a father. The speaker of the poem reflects on the sacrifices made by their father, who rises early on Sunday mornings to stoke the fire and tend to the needs of the household.
The first image in the poem is of the "blueblack cold" of the winter mornings. This cold is described as being so intense that it "cracks" the stones, a metaphor for the harshness of the winter weather. This image sets the tone for the rest of the poem, as it conveys the difficulty and hard work that the father endures in order to provide for his family.
The next image is of the father, who is described as "bald" and "with cracked hands" as he rises "before the dawn." These details paint a picture of a man who has aged and weathered from years of hard work and toil. The fact that he rises before the dawn, when it is still dark and cold outside, further emphasizes the dedication and selflessness of his actions.
The final image in the poem is of the father "speaking indifferently to the fact that every word he says / Falls on deaf ears." This image suggests that the speaker and perhaps the rest of the family are too busy or preoccupied to fully appreciate the sacrifices made by the father. It is only in hindsight, when the speaker reflects on the "blueblack cold" and the "cracked hands" of the father, that they come to understand the love and dedication that he showed through his actions.
Overall, the imagery in "Those Winter Sundays" serves to convey the love and sacrifice of the father, as well as the speaker's realization of that love. The harsh winter weather, the father's worn appearance, and the indifference of the speaker all come together to create a poignant and touching portrayal of a loving father's devotion to his family.
Mood, Imagery And Metaphors In Those Winter Sundays By Robert...
The poem focuses on how nobody ever thanked him for his efforts, and how now as an older person Hayden truly understands the depth and complexity of parental love. Then ask them to use a text box below each image to explain its significance. When looking for tone, which is the attitude of the speaker, we're looking at the word choices and viewpoints. Again, the imagery is strong as the reader can picture the father taking care of his shoes, making sure they are presentable for church. Hard and sharp as flint, from which no steel had ever struck out generous fire; secret, and self- contained, and solitary as an oyster.
Imagery In Those Winter Sundays
The house is substituted for the people who live inside the house. If I were a father who had trouble expressing my love in conventional ways and no one ever seemed to appreciate the sacrifices I made for my loved ones, I'd imagine I'd get angry too. As a result, the speaker seems coldest when the house is warmest. The speaker shows that they are emotionally lonely in their home because they fear the ''chronic angers of that house. Before church, Robert or Bob the speaker would usually sit around by himself for about an hour because his father was just waking up. The fire however, alludes to what his work was creating in the home and the fires being previously banked symbolizes that the fires that have raged with heat have been in coldness for some time, agreeing… A Father's Duty In Those Winter Sundays By Robert Hayden Growing up, Hayden was not as appreciative of his father and the amount of work and effort that was put in order to provide for the family.
Symbolism in Those Winter Sundays by Robert Hayden
A poem about a working father is this one. The authors, Robert Hayden and Lucille Clifton, share the impact of their fathers through poetry, each with their own take on how their fathers treated them. The author remembers how his father woke up early to heat the house and worked hard to provide for the family. The speaker shares that this was a repeated effort and happened every day, even on Sundays. The poem contains various types of figurative language to help the reader understand the meaning of the poem, which depicts loss and grief. Throughout out the poem, the speaker uses various degrees of imagery to help bring the reader into their world.
What are examples of imagery in Those Winter Sundays?
The speaker, as a young boy, thinks that his father is a cold and unloving person. The cold isn't just cold; it's "blueblack cold. Those Winter Sundays poem by Robert Hayden is a poem with great imagery. The speaker, now a man, realizes that it was wrong that "No one ever thanked him. This poem is a reminder to appreciate the people in our lives who do so much for us. Middle Passage And Those Winter Sundays 250 Words 1 Pages All three poems of Hayden were sort of sad from my point of view. Comparing Those Winter Sundays And A Blessing By James Wright 735 Words 3 Pages A snapshot VS painting showed two different poems to compare which were a snapshot and painting.
