Unpacking a poem

1. Unpacking a poem “The Cross of Snow” By Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

2. Focus questions • Where does the poem shift and why? • What Christian images are present in the poem? How do these images relate to the speaker? How do these images relate to the subject? • What is the tone of the poem? How do you know? Identify the devices (diction, images, figurative language, etc) that help create the tone.

3. “The cross of snow” In the long, sleepless watches of the night,A gentle face--the face of one long dead--Looks at me from the wall, where round its head The night-lamp casts a halo of pale light.Here in this room she died, and soul more whiteNever through martyrdom of fire was ledTo its repose; nor can in books be readThe legend of a life more benedight.There is a mountain in the distant WestThat, sun-defying, in its deep ravinesDisplays a cross of snow upon its side.Such is the cross I wear upon my breastThese eighteen years, through all the changing scenesAnd seasons, changeless since the day she died.

4. title • The Cross of Snow • What is the significance of the title? • The cross is a shape , but it also holds symbolic meaning for Christians because Jesus died on a cross. • In society, we often refer to burdens or sorrows as “crosses to bear.” • Snow is white and often symbolizes purity.

5. “The cross of snow” In the long, sleepless watches of the night,A gentle face--the face of one long dead--Looks at me from the wall, where round its head The night-lamp casts a halo of pale light.Here in this room she died, and soul more whiteNever through martyrdom of fire was ledTo its repose; nor can in books be readThe legend of a life more benedight.There is a mountain in the distant WestThat, sun-defying, in its deep ravinesDisplays a cross of snow upon its side.Such is the cross I wear upon my breastThese eighteen years, through all the changing scenesAnd seasons, changeless since the day she died.

6. Subject/Paraphrase • The speaker, sitting up sleepless at night, looks at the picture of his dead wife on the wall, where it is surrounded by a halo of lamplight. • His wife died in this room, and the speaker suggests she was saint-like, religious, pure. • There is a mountain that has snow in the shape of a cross which is like the cross the speaker wears on his chest since the day his wife died.

7. Figurative language • Imagery • Simile • Metaphor • Personification • Symbolism

8. Metaphor IMPLIED METAPHOR A halo…martyrdom – wife is a saint IMPLIED METAPHOR Such is the cross I wear upon my breast – cross is his grief of losing his wife

9. Personification • Looks at me from the wall (the picture)

10. imagery In the long, sleepless watches of the night Creates the image of a night watchman.

11. Imagery - Christian A gentle face – Looks at me from the wall, where round its head The night lamp casts a halo of pale light. Christian image of a saint

12. http://www.flickr.com/photos/george_eastman_house/2677481877/http://fletchingarrows.tumblr.com/post/14369277464/missfolly-study-for-saint-bride-by-johnhttp://www.flickr.com/photos/george_eastman_house/2677481877/http://fletchingarrows.tumblr.com/post/14369277464/missfolly-study-for-saint-bride-by-john

13. Imagery - Christian There is a mountain in the distant West That, sun-defying, in its deep ravines Displays a cross of snow upon its side. Image of a mountain that bears a cross shape filled with snow Such is the cross I wear upon my breast Creates the image of a deep wound in the speaker’s chest

14. http://english.emory.edu/classes/paintings&poems/cross.jpghttp://www.youareyourpath.com/monthly0403.htmlhttp://english.emory.edu/classes/paintings&poems/cross.jpghttp://www.youareyourpath.com/monthly0403.html

15. symbolism • White – purity • Snow - purity • Cross - grief and sorrow • His wife was pure and good, even saint-like, and even after 18 years, he is still grieving or carrying the burden of the loss

16. Literary/Poetic devices • Mood  • Tone • Theme

17. mood • The overall feeling of the poem is solemnly reflective or serious, even sad

18. tone • Sadness • Longfellow’s attitude toward loss

19. theme • One may never get over the tragic loss of a loved one – no matter how much time has passed.

20. Sound devices • Rhyme • Rhyme scheme or Free verse • Rhythm • Meter • Assonance • Alliteration • Onomatopoeia

21. Rhyme scheme A B B A A B B A In the long, sleepless watches of the night, A gentle face – the face of one long dead – Looks at me from the wall, where round its head The night lamp casts a halo of pale light. Here in this room she died; and soul more white Never through martyrdom of fire was led To its repose; nor can in books be read The legend of a life more benedight.

22. Rhyme scheme C D E C D E There is a mountain in the distant West That, sun-defying, in its deep ravines Displays a cross of snow upon its side. Such is the cross I wear upon my breast These eighteen years, through all the changing scenes And seasons, changeless since the day she died. Exact end rhyme

23. Rhythm - meter • Iambic pentameter – a line of poetry that contains 5 iambs • Iamb – an unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable In the long, sleeplesswatchesofthenight

24. Alliteration That, sun-defying, in its deep ravines Displays a cross of snow upon itsside. Note: There are others; this is one example. You must be thorough.

25. Assonance The night lamp casts a halo of pale light Note: There are others; this is one example. You must be thorough.