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Those Winter Sundays Tone

650 Words3 Pages

Austin Couts
Professor Napier-Brown
ENGL 1020-R51
3 June 2023

Fathers and Unappreciated Love: Exploring Robert Hayden's “Those Winter Sundays”
How often in our lives do we find ourselves reflecting on the things that have passed us by. Chiefly, all the love and regrets we have with family members, especially those that may no longer be with us? How many missed opportunities did we let pass by to show our love and appreciation for our loved ones? In Robert Hayden's poignant poem, "Those Winter Sundays," he employs a somber tone, vivid imagery, deliberate diction, and a well-structured form to explore the theme of unappreciated love. Through these skillful literary devices, Hayden reveals the profound emotional impact of overlooked acts of love …show more content…

The repetition of "Sundays" at the beginning of each line creates a sense of regularity and routine, establishing a reflective mood. It suggests that these particular Sundays held a more profound significance in the speaker's memory. The poem opens with the lines "Sundays too my father got up early" - a simple statement that encapsulates the father's unwavering commitment and dedication.
Vivid imagery is a hallmark of Hayden's poetry, and "Those Winter Sundays" is no exception. The phrase "blueblack cold" evokes a vivid sensory experience, describing both the physical chill of the morning and the emotional distance within the household. It presents the image of the father, "putting his clothes on in the blueblack cold," emphasizing the harshness of his surroundings as he carries out his responsibilities.
Hayden's deliberate diction adds depth and emotional resonance to the poem. Words such as "cracked hands," "ached," and "chronic angers" convey a sense of physical and emotional pain. The lines "with cracked hands that ached / from labor in the weekday weather made / banked fires blaze" highlight the physical toll the father endures. The phrase "cracked hands" suggests years of hard work, while "ached" emphasizes the strain and fatigue he experiences. These carefully chosen words allow readers to feel the weight of the father's …show more content…

The metaphor of the "chronic angers of that house" reveals the underlying tension and discord within the family. It implies that the father's acts of love and devotion may go unnoticed or unappreciated due to the household's unresolved conflicts and emotional strain. This metaphor underscores the depth of the father's responsibilities and his challenges in expressing his love.
The structure of the poem also contributes to its impact. The structure mirrors the father's disciplined routine and consists of three stanzas, each containing four lines. The symmetrical balance reflects the order and predictability of the father's actions. However, the final line of the last stanza stands apart, separated from the rest of the structure. The line "What did I know, what did I know / of love's austere and lonely offices?" possesses a robust introspective quality. Its isolation emphasizes the speaker's newfound understanding and appreciation, serving as a poignant moment of realization.
The line "Sundays too my father got up early" highlights the unwavering commitment and regularity of the father's actions. Furthermore, the lines "cracked hands that ached / from labor in the weekday weather made / banked fires blaze" underscore the physical toll of the father's work and his dedicated efforts to warm the

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