Writing H: Unit 5 + "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening"

Figurative language refers to the use of words in a way that deviates from the conventional order and meaning in order to convey a complicated meaning, colorful writing, clarity, or evocative comparison. It uses an ordinary sentence to refer to something without directly stating it.

-A metaphor compares two things by suggesting that one thing is another: "The United States is a melting pot."

-A simile compares two things by saying that one thing is like another: "My love is like a red, red rose."

-Hyperbole is a form of exaggeration: "I would die without you.

The term mood refers to the atmosphere that envelopes the reader and evokes certain feelings.

Explain how the following line reflects the theme of the poem:

The woods are lovely, dark and deep.

(Take a few minutes to think about this and jot down any thoughts you might have in your notebook).

This line suggests that nature is beautiful, but mysterious--and something that is separate from human life. The speaker is experiencing nature only by being as far from town and people as possible, and doing something his fellow townspeople might question: stopping in the middle of nowhere to experience winter. The phrase "dark and deep" suggests that part of nature can never be truly understood by humans.

In what way are the final 2 lines of the poem figurative--containing meaning beyond their literal interpretation?

And miles to go before I sleep,

And miles to go before I sleep.

(Write your thoughts for the next few minutes.)

The final repeated pair of lines may be interpreted with a figurative meaning: "And miles to go before I sleep." By interpreting "sleep" to also mean "death", we ca assume that the speaker has many years left before he dies and it is toon soon to give up on life and withdraw.

How do the final two lines of the poem change the mood of "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening"?

The final lines of the poem have a plodding and tired mood, reminiscent of someone trudging through heavy snow. The speaker repeats that he must keep riding because he has miles to go before his job is done. While the beginning of the poem is reflective and peaceful, the mood changes in the final lines. It moves away from the peaceful quiet of a winter night to the reality of responsibility in life.