Compare and contrast the three snow poems focusing on the poetic techniques utilised to create the snowy scene.

Authors Avatar

Compare and contrast the three snow poems

 focusing on the poetic techniques utilised to create the snowy scene

        Snow is one of nature’s most beautiful creations. Its exquisite magical purity can transform a scene into a sparkling world of whiteness. Snow can be described as a magical miracle because of its beauty and when this very snow falls, the world is in awe as it is covered by this white blanket. The natural, pure snow can bring a sense of tranquillity and peace to the surroundings.

        The three poets, Robert Bridges, Thomas Hardy and Edward Thomas view the snow as being constant and silencing. Bridges’ poem, “London Snow” describes the silencing effect that the snow brings to the environment; as “silently sifting and veiling road, roof and railing.” Thomas’ poem “snow” equally comments on this silencing effect the snow has; “In the great silence of snow.” Hardy’s poem “Snow in the suburbs” similarly describes how snow can affect the environment. The line “Every street and pavement mute” is once again describing the snow as a silencer. They all mention the snow’s effect their poems are directly with reference to the natural world and its elements as a result of this. The poets are influenced and inspired by the snow’s purity and hence the scenes depicted by the poems are, to quote Bridges “A white mossed wonder.”

        Robert Bridges’ poem, “London Snow” is a very detailed description of snow as an entity, therefore conveying a sense of awe of how the snow can transform a scene. He begins the poem by describing the silencing effect the snow has on the town; “Hushing the latest traffic of the drowsy town.” He uses vocabulary such a “stifling,” “lazily,” “incessantly” and “silently sifting” to describe the slow movement of the snow as it falls on the town. In the eighth line, Bridges uses the phrase; “Hiding difference, making unevenness, even” which portrays the perfection of the snow. Bridges then describes the snow’s physical appearance, commenting on how the snow looks solid but is actually light; “It lay in depth of its uncompacted lightness.” The following lines are detailed description of the transforming effect the snow has. Bridges comments on the snow creating a bright sparkle to the town. He uses phrases such as “unaccustomed brightness” and “marvelled at the dazzling whiteness” to explain and depict this change. Bridges comments on how the people of the city and the children in particular react to the snow; “…boys I heard, as they went to school, calling, they gathered up the crystal manna to freeze their tongues with tasting.” This line is a good description of the excited reactions of the schoolchildren and the magical effect the snow has on them. Another interpretation Bridges uses is the fact that many people are in a battle with the snow, trying to walk to wherever they need to be; “For now the doors open, and war is waged with the snow.” This is followed with Bridges explaining how the snow’s beauty has been ruined by the people whom are just trying to live their daily routine; “Minds diverted; the daily word is unspoken”. The last few lines describe the regret of the people as they see the beauty in front of them ruined. The impression given by Bridges is that of the people going to work having had their moods transformed as they are no longer complaining owing to their minds being diverted to the snow. The regret is of the people having just ruined the natural beauty of the snow; “At the sight of the beauty that greets them, for the charm they have broken.” The entire poem is full of adjectives, used to describe the sense of wonder of the snow transforming the scene; “stealthily”, “bright”, “sparkling”, “dazzling”, “marvelled”, and “frosty.” The image Bridges creates at first is a “white mossed wonder” which portrays the snow as a white blanket. The idea he tries to explain in the poem is of the snow changing throughout the day, transforming the atmosphere and to London becoming magical. However, this magic can be ruined by normal people who are walking through it trying to lead their lives. The negative side to the snow is it cannot be controlled and so will always be ruined. The ideas are complemented by the tone and mood of the poem. The beginning has a sense of peace and tranquillity with the atmosphere being sparkling, bright and magical. However, towards the end, the town becomes busier and the pace of the day and the poem quickens and the charm is broken.

Join now!

        “Snow in the Suburbs” by Thomas Hardy is similar to Bridges’ poem in that it is another detailed description of how snow effects the environment. Hardy describes the silencing effect that the snow has, similar to what Bridges has described; “Every street and pavement mute.” Hardy uses some very effective language in the next couple of lines to describe the snow’s movement. The phrases, “flakes have lost their way and grope back upward” and “…meandering down they turn and descend again” are extremely effective and give a good impression of how the snow weaves and how the flakes actually move. ...

This is a preview of the whole essay