How does Ted Hughes present the weather in his poems The Warm and the Cold and Wind.

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How does Ted Hughes present the weather in his poems “The warm                                                        and the cold” and “Wind”.

In Ted Hughes’ poem, “The warm and the cold” and “Wind”, the weather conditions are extremely hostile as the poet uses effective writing techniques to show this. In the poem “the warm and the cold”, the warm shows and presents a safe, protected environment for the animals, whilst giving the reader the impression of well-being for all the creatures in nature and shows the reader where the animals are meant to be. On the other hand, the cold is shown to be violent and causes danger to the world. Likewise, in the poem “Wind”, the environment is potentially violent as the wind causes damage to all in its path, not caring for anything else.

Firstly, Hughes uses effective imagery to present hostile weather conditions. Both poems use metaphors, firstly in the poem “the wind”, Ted Hughes says: “Both poems use metaphors, firstly in “Wind”, Ted Hughes says: “This house has been far out at sea all night”. When this is said, the reader gets a sense of vulnerability as being “Far out at sea” is dangerous .This also gives the idea of helplessness as the wind is very strong at sea meaning the house is at the mercy of the wind. In poem “The warm and the cold” Hughes uses the metaphor, “The past and the future, are jaws of a steel vice”. This sentence gives the impression of danger and strength as the words “vice” and “steel” has been used. It also gives the reader the impression that there is no escaping the danger as Hughes says, “The past and the future” giving the sense of inevitability. Both poems employ similes-particularly in “The Warm and the Cold”, the poet says: “Freezing dusk has tightened, like a nut screwed tight”. The sentence is not just a simile but uses personification, although the main effect is found in the simile as it is using an analogy between the “Freezing dusk” and a “Nut” being screwed tight. Similes are also used in “Wind” as Hughes writes, “Flexing like a lens of a mad eye”. The word “lens” is associated with eyes showing the wind’s focus and determination. Also Hughes says the words “Mad eye”, giving the impression that it is flaring about, out of control showing power and strength. The two poems include personification, in “Wind” the poet writes: “Winds stampeding the fields under the window”. When the words “stampeding the fields” is used the reader gets an idea that the wind is destructive, not just to nature, but to the people as it is affecting their livelihood as the wind is destroying the crops and food in the fields. This also makes the wind seem egotistical as he is “stampeding” the fields, not caring for the harm it is causing. In “The warm and the cold” the poet writes, “On trees and hills and all that can no longer feel”. This sentence is referring to the cold as it is implying that the “trees and hills” have feelings and are numb from the cold weather. It also gives the reader an idea of how large the cold is, as it covers all the trees and hills showing the sheer size and power of it.

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Secondly, contrast is used to emphasise how hostile the different weather conditions are. In “The Warm and the Cold”, contrast is used between the warm and the cold. The cold is seen to be more hostile as Hughes writes: “Freezing dusk is closing, like a slow trap of steel”. When the word “dusk” is used it gives to reader the idea that you can’t escape it, the words “slow trap” and “steel” gives the impression of pain, agony and power. Contrastingly, the warm is shown to be more like a safe haven as the poet says, “And the badger in ...

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