Comparing Winter Evening And Stories Of Snow By P. K. Page

“Winter Evening” by Archibald Lampman, and “Stories of Snow” by P.K Page are two poems describing the human experience of winter. Winter is seen, by some, to be blissful, magical and serene. Winter could also be described as pure and heavenly, with the white snow resembling clouds. However, others have a contrasting viewpoint; they paint winter in harsher light, giving the impression that winter is bitter and ruthless. Others still, have a mixed viewpoint and may recognize both the positives and negatives to the season. Archibald Lampman’s “Winter Evening” and P.K. Page’s “Stories of Snow” both initially describe winter to be delicate and blissful, yet, as one delves deeper into the poem, it is revealed that the speakers believe winter to be harsh and forceful. Archibald Lampman’s “Winter Evening,” starts describing an evening

The speaker Lampman creates describes “rows of golden palaces” (4), and “horses springing by” (1) giving the impression that winter is heavenly. The speaker initially describes winter as being something similar to the traditional idea of heaven. The speaker gives a blissful and serene description of winter. Gold is a symbol brought up frequently throughout the poem; this adds to the heavenly description of winter, as gold is a symbol of wealth and purity. Gold is used in nearly every image at the start of the poem to really evoke the bliss in winter. As the poem continues, the tone changes. Instead, gold is replaced, which connotes strength, and power, but is cold which contrast the warm feelings given off by the imagery of gold. Lampman states “Stern creeping frosts, and winds that touch like steel, / out of the depth beyond the eastern bars,” (12-13). This quotation not only instills images of cold and harshness, but also of the bleak bars of a prison. This poem is nearly a Petrarchan