A hard frost- Cecil Day Lewis

What metaphor is expressed in the title?

• Represents the difficulty we sometimes go through

  After the cold, good things happen

• Represents happiness

  Spring

How has the windowpane (line 4) been transformed?

• The winter has come and frosted the plants on the windowpane

• The ice has melted and the flowers are visible

In what way is this scene a ‘mockery’ (to make fun of) Spring?

• Criticizes people

• Winter takes away the beauty of Nature, bringing cold and uncomfortable weather

What is meant by the following lines:

"Grip on the seed and lets

the future breathe."

• The seed needs to be alive and grow

• The winter brings harsh weather

  During this time the seed fights the cold in order to grow

Identify and explain the figure of speech in line 11:

"to lend this bridal gear"

• Metaphor

  He compares the snow caps on mountains to that of a bride to be

  Winter represents a new beginning and joy

• Simile

  He compares the snow caps on mountains to that of a bride to be

  Winter represents a new beginning and joy

The theme of the poem is that the frost formed on the windows (which is compared to Spring) is faux/artificial. In the same way, the bridal clothes do not make the country girl happy, it is a superficial happiness.

• True

• False

Name the plants mentioned in the first stanza that are used to describe this spring scene.

• White lilac, catkin, may drift and the transformed elms make the scene appear like spring.

• Daffodils, white lilac, lilies

The real growth doesn’t happen on the surface in obvious places /but underground where the ice has forced the clay to release the seed for growth. This figuratively translates to:

• Hardships in our lives release new growth inside us/ Real change happens invisibly/ our future shows that man is part of nature and that change is natural

• Change is difficult to accept and we do not always adapt to changes which occur in life. Changes are visible and can be prevented

How does the poet use punctuation to convey emotion in the poem?

• The dash in line 2 explains the outrageous theft that has occurred. The exclamation mark after aconite and snowdrop! (line 14) conveys the extreme disappointment and shock of the bride at losing her newfound status.

• The hyphen in line 2 explains the outrageous theft that has occurred. The exclamation mark after aconite and snowdrop! (line 14) conveys the extreme disappointment and shock of the bride at finding her newfound status.

Extended metaphor is recurring in the poem.

• True

• False