Eng125 Reading Response to a Poem: Boy at the Window
Reading response to a poem: Richard Wilbur Boy at the window
D. Jones
ENG125
July 1, 2012
For: Jennifer Miller
Reading response to a poem: Richard Wilbur Boy at the window
When one is considered naïve, it has been thought to determine one as “having or showing a lack of experience, judgment, or information; credulous” (www.dictionary.com). In Richard Wilburs’ poem, Boy at the Window, Wilbur uses simple form language to paint the image of the boy staring out the window at the snowman. In the beginning of the poem, Wilbur reveals two characters, one a snowman and the other a young boy. Both characters in the poem seem to have a connection to each other, and may even consider themselves, friends. Perhaps the boy may have helped to build the snowman. One day during an incoming storm, the boy peers outside the window and appears to be frightened for the snowman because the snowman has no shelter from the storm “In dusk and cold is more than he can bear” (Clugston, 2010). The boy fears for the snowman’s life because the boy realizes the rain will melt the snowman away. However the snowman does not want to come inside the warm house with the boy for fear he will melt and die. In this case who is naïve, the boy or the snowman?
Beginning from the perspective of the boy staring out the window, it is obvious the boy feels helpless. The boy realizes that a storm is coming, “A night of gnashing and enormous moan”, (Clugston, 2010) which will eventually wash away the snowman. When the boy feels the snowman is going to die the boys emotions turns to one of hurt. The young boy does not understand that the snowman needs the cold to survive, even if it means death when it rains. The tone of the poem indicated that perhaps the boy feared what the outside world held for the snowman, and the storm intensified that. In one world, the inside, the boy felt “Such warmth, such light, such love, and so much fear” (Clugston, 2010). He wanted the snowman to
D. Jones
ENG125
July 1, 2012
For: Jennifer Miller
Reading response to a poem: Richard Wilbur Boy at the window
When one is considered naïve, it has been thought to determine one as “having or showing a lack of experience, judgment, or information; credulous” (www.dictionary.com). In Richard Wilburs’ poem, Boy at the Window, Wilbur uses simple form language to paint the image of the boy staring out the window at the snowman. In the beginning of the poem, Wilbur reveals two characters, one a snowman and the other a young boy. Both characters in the poem seem to have a connection to each other, and may even consider themselves, friends. Perhaps the boy may have helped to build the snowman. One day during an incoming storm, the boy peers outside the window and appears to be frightened for the snowman because the snowman has no shelter from the storm “In dusk and cold is more than he can bear” (Clugston, 2010). The boy fears for the snowman’s life because the boy realizes the rain will melt the snowman away. However the snowman does not want to come inside the warm house with the boy for fear he will melt and die. In this case who is naïve, the boy or the snowman?
Beginning from the perspective of the boy staring out the window, it is obvious the boy feels helpless. The boy realizes that a storm is coming, “A night of gnashing and enormous moan”, (Clugston, 2010) which will eventually wash away the snowman. When the boy feels the snowman is going to die the boys emotions turns to one of hurt. The young boy does not understand that the snowman needs the cold to survive, even if it means death when it rains. The tone of the poem indicated that perhaps the boy feared what the outside world held for the snowman, and the storm intensified that. In one world, the inside, the boy felt “Such warmth, such light, such love, and so much fear” (Clugston, 2010). He wanted the snowman to
References: Clugston, R.W. 2010. Journey into Literature. Retrieved from https://content.ashford.edu/books/AUENG125.10.2/sections/sec9.1 Naïve. 2012. In dictionary.com Retrieved on July 1, 2012 from www.dictionary.com Ichheiser, G. (1943), MISINTERPRETATIONS OF PERSONALITY IN EVERYDAY LIFE AND THE PSYCHOLOGIST 'S FRAME OF REFERENCE. Journal of Personality, 12: 145–160. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-6494.1943.tb01953.x Retrieved from http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1467-6494.1943.tb01953.x/abstract