Snow
By Louis MacNeice
The room was suddenly rich and the great bay-window was
Spawning snow and pink roses against it
Soundlessly collateral and incompatible:
World is suddener than we fancy it.World is crazier and more of it than we think,
Incorrigibly plural. I peel and portion
A tangerine and spit the pips and feel
The drunkenness of things being various.And the fire flames with a bubbling sound for world
Is more spiteful and gay than one supposesOn the tongue on the eyes on the ears in the palms of one’s hands
There is more than glass between the snow and the huge roses.
Summary of Snow
- Popularity of “Snow”: The poem titled “Snow” attributed to Louis MacNeice has not appeared in his collected works and remains unpublished, though it is occasionally cited in literary discussions. It is a brief piece that captures a moment of quiet observation amid a snowfall, exploring sudden perceptual shifts and the richness of the present.
- “Snow” As a Representative of Snowing: The poem opens with a warm interior contrasted against the “spawning snow” and pink roses seen through a bay window. This image sets the stage for a meditation on unexpectedness, with the snow acting as a catalyst for awareness and the act of peeling a tangerine serving as a symbolic, personal ritual that grounds the speaker amid the vast, unpredictable world.
- Major Themes in “Snow”: Key themes include the sudden arrival of snow, the role of perception in shaping reality, and the world’s incorrigible plurality, which makes it both spiteful and joyous. The poem invites readers to pause and appreciate the unexpected beauty and inherent strangeness of existence.
Analysis of Literary Devices Used in Snow
Louis MacNeice skillfully employs several literary devices to create a vivid, evocative experience in “Snow.”
- Assonance: The repetition of vowel sounds lends a musical quality to the poem. For instance, the consonant “s” in “soundlessly collateral” and the “o” in “supposes” create a subtle sonic harmony that reinforces the poem’s contemplative mood.
- Alliteration: Subtle alliteration, as in “spawning snow,” draws attention to specific images and contributes to the poem’s musicality.
- Consonance: The repeated “s” in “soundlessly collateral” adds texture to the poem’s soundscape and underscores the quiet observation of the scene.
- Enjambment: MacNeice uses enjambment to allow thoughts and sensations to flow across line breaks, mimicking the natural movement of perception. The lines “I peel and portion / A tangerine and spit the pips / The drunkenness of things being various” illustrate this technique.
- Imagery: The poem is rich in sensory detail, from the “spawning snow and pink roses” to the tactile experience of tasting a tangerine. These images immerse the reader in the speaker’s environment.
- Personification: The world is personified with adjectives such as “suddener” and “crazier,” giving it agency and emphasizing its unpredictable nature.
- Symbolism: Snow represents change and the unexpected, while the tangerine symbolizes small, grounding rituals amid chaos.
Analysis of Poetic Devices Used in Snow
- Diction and Tone: The poem’s diction is precise and evocative, creating a contemplative tone that is neither overly sentimental nor dramatic.
- Free Verse: “Snow” is written in free verse, allowing a natural, conversational rhythm that mirrors the ebb and flow of thought.
- Stanza Structure: The poem has no regular stanza structure; it is composed of irregular groupings of lines that contribute to its fluidity.
- Repetition: Repetition of words such as “world” and phrases like “on the” emphasizes key ideas and builds a memorable rhythm throughout the poem.
Quotes to be Used
World is crazier and more of it than we think,
Incorrigibly plural. I peel and portion
A tangerine and spit the pips and feel
The drunkenness of things being various.
This passage beautifully captures the sense of being overwhelmed by the sheer abundance and strangeness of the world, while simultaneously finding a small measure of peace in simple, everyday acts.