Those Winter Sundays Tone
The poem “Those Winter Sundays” was written by Robert Hayden. The poem 's theme is centralized around the love and commitment of Hayden’s father. The poem expresses how Hayden seen his father as a strict, responsible, and sometimes angered man. Although his father was strict in his ways, he did show his love in his own ways.
Hayden wrote this poem in open form. This form allowed his poem to come to life as it moves along. The poem contains fourteen lines and there is no rhythm or rhyming pattern. The tone of this poem conveys how Hayden 's father, however hard-worked, he still made time to take care of his responsibilities at home. The tone is set in the first line, “Sundays too my father got up early”. This is a prime example that even though it was Sunday, his father did not sleep in; he got up to take care of his chores. …show more content…
From reading the title "Those Winter Sundays", Hayden sets the scene for the entire poem.
He uses a cold winter day instead of a summer day to add to the overall tone of the poem. Hayden 's word choices in the second line: "blueblack cold", in the sixth line "cold splintering", and in the eleventh line, "driven out the cold", helps to further describe a cold harsh winter day. Hayden sets an image of a hard worked man with his diction in line three, "cracked hands that ached". Hayden 's words in line nine, "fearing the chronic angers of that house", gives the reader insight to the father 's demeanor. Although the speaker talks about anger to describe the
father;
the poems overall imagery is painting a picture of the father 's love and commitment to his family. His father yet strict in his ways did show his love in his own way. This is evident in line twelve, "and polished my good shoes as well". Hayden uses this line to give the reader another insight to the father 's demeanor. Hayden 's word uses in the last line sums up the relationship between him and his father. The line reads, "of love 's austere and lonely offices?” Hayden’s use of "austere" and "offices" reveal how complex his relationship was with his father. His meaning of office is applied in a way you do not usually see this word defined. It describes the father’s love as uncompromising and sometimes a lonely situation whether good or bad.
Hayden’s tone, imagery and diction compliment the theme of this poem very well. His short fourteen line poem does a great job of conveying the theme of a loving and committed father. The message of this poem is that sometimes a father’s love may be presented in different ways. Nevertheless, a father’s love is unconditional; he will do whatever it takes to provide for his family.
In conclusion, this poem helps to teach the reader that a father’s love; sometimes strict and misunderstood is still based on love and the bias of providing for and taking care of his family no matter what the situation is. It also concludes that we as humans will take on responsibilities and go the distance when it comes to the well being of our family.
Works Cited
Kennedy, X.J. and Giola, Dana, eds. Backpack Literature An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, Drama and Writing, 3rd ed. Longman, 2010, Print
Hayden wrote this poem in open form. This form allowed his poem to come to life as it moves along. The poem contains fourteen lines and there is no rhythm or rhyming pattern. The tone of this poem conveys how Hayden 's father, however hard-worked, he still made time to take care of his responsibilities at home. The tone is set in the first line, “Sundays too my father got up early”. This is a prime example that even though it was Sunday, his father did not sleep in; he got up to take care of his chores. …show more content…
From reading the title "Those Winter Sundays", Hayden sets the scene for the entire poem.
He uses a cold winter day instead of a summer day to add to the overall tone of the poem. Hayden 's word choices in the second line: "blueblack cold", in the sixth line "cold splintering", and in the eleventh line, "driven out the cold", helps to further describe a cold harsh winter day. Hayden sets an image of a hard worked man with his diction in line three, "cracked hands that ached". Hayden 's words in line nine, "fearing the chronic angers of that house", gives the reader insight to the father 's demeanor. Although the speaker talks about anger to describe the
father;
the poems overall imagery is painting a picture of the father 's love and commitment to his family. His father yet strict in his ways did show his love in his own way. This is evident in line twelve, "and polished my good shoes as well". Hayden uses this line to give the reader another insight to the father 's demeanor. Hayden 's word uses in the last line sums up the relationship between him and his father. The line reads, "of love 's austere and lonely offices?” Hayden’s use of "austere" and "offices" reveal how complex his relationship was with his father. His meaning of office is applied in a way you do not usually see this word defined. It describes the father’s love as uncompromising and sometimes a lonely situation whether good or bad.
Hayden’s tone, imagery and diction compliment the theme of this poem very well. His short fourteen line poem does a great job of conveying the theme of a loving and committed father. The message of this poem is that sometimes a father’s love may be presented in different ways. Nevertheless, a father’s love is unconditional; he will do whatever it takes to provide for his family.
In conclusion, this poem helps to teach the reader that a father’s love; sometimes strict and misunderstood is still based on love and the bias of providing for and taking care of his family no matter what the situation is. It also concludes that we as humans will take on responsibilities and go the distance when it comes to the well being of our family.
Works Cited
Kennedy, X.J. and Giola, Dana, eds. Backpack Literature An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, Drama and Writing, 3rd ed. Longman, 2010, Print