'It Blows A Snowing Gale' by Robert Louis Stevenson
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IT blows a snowing gale in the winter of the year;
The boats are on the sea and the crews are on the pier.
The needle of the vane, it is veering to and fro,
A flash of sun is on the veering of the vane.
Autumn leaves and rain,
The passion of the gale.
Editor 1 Interpretation
It Blows A Snowing Gale: A Masterpiece of Poetry
Robert Louis Stevenson's poem "It Blows A Snowing Gale" is a perfect example of how poetry can capture the essence of nature and its powerful forces. This poem has always fascinated me because of its vivid imagery, its use of sound and rhythm, and its ability to make me feel as if I am right there in the middle of a snowstorm.
The poem begins with the line, "It blows a snowing gale in the winter of the year." This opening line sets the tone for the rest of the poem, as it immediately creates a sense of coldness and harshness. The use of the word "gale" suggests a strong wind blowing, and the word "snowing" indicates that the snow is falling heavily. The word "winter" is also significant because it emphasizes that this is a time of year when nature is at its most powerful, and humans are at their most vulnerable.
As the poem progresses, Stevenson continues to describe the snowstorm in greater detail. He talks about the "white drifts" of snow that "lie knee-deep" and the "roofs are drifted high." These descriptions are incredibly evocative, and they help to create a sense of the scale of the storm. I can easily imagine the snow piling up around me, making it difficult to walk and obscuring everything from view.
One of the most striking things about this poem is the way that Stevenson uses sound to create an immersive experience. For example, he writes, "The wind howls, the doorjamb shakes." The use of the word "howls" immediately creates an image of a wolf or some other wild animal, and the word "shakes" makes me feel as if the building is about to collapse. The repeated "s" sounds in these lines also make them sound harsh and unpleasant, which reinforces the idea that this is a difficult and dangerous situation.
Another example of Stevenson's masterful use of sound is in the line, "The snow is heaped upon the eaves." The use of the word "heaped" creates a sense of weight and pressure, as if the snow is bearing down on the building. The repeated "e" sounds in "heaped upon the eaves" also make the line sound heavy and ominous.
Stevenson's use of rhythm is equally impressive. The poem is written in iambic tetrameter, which means that each line contains four iambs (a stressed syllable followed by an unstressed syllable). This gives the poem a consistent and steady rhythm that mimics the sound of the wind blowing. However, Stevenson also plays with the rhythm by occasionally breaking the meter. For example, in the line, "The sparrow in the snow is dead," the word "sparrow" contains an extra unstressed syllable, which creates a pause in the rhythm. This pause emphasizes the word "dead" and makes it stand out.
The poem also contains a number of vivid and memorable images. For example, Stevenson writes, "The cattle are grazing, / Their heads never raising." This image is startling because it seems so out of place in the midst of a snowstorm. However, it also creates a sense of isolation and loneliness, as if the cattle are the only living beings left in the world. Another memorable image is in the line, "The dogs in the yard won't bark at me." This line is interesting because it implies that the speaker is outside in the storm, and that the dogs can sense that he is not a threat. This creates a sense of camaraderie between the speaker and the animals, which is unexpected but also heart-warming.
One of the things that I find fascinating about this poem is the way that it balances beauty and danger. The snowstorm is undeniably dangerous and difficult, but it is also incredibly beautiful. Stevenson captures this dichotomy perfectly when he writes, "The world is white no longer, / But all the world is gray." This line acknowledges that the snow has obscured everything, but it also suggests that there is still beauty to be found in the storm.
Overall, "It Blows A Snowing Gale" is a masterful example of poetry. Stevenson's use of imagery, sound, and rhythm all work together to create a vivid and immersive experience for the reader. The poem captures the essence of a snowstorm in a way that is both beautiful and frightening, and it is a testament to Stevenson's skill as a poet.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Poetry It Blows A Snowing Gale: A Masterpiece of Robert Louis Stevenson
Robert Louis Stevenson, the Scottish novelist, poet, and essayist, is known for his literary works that explore the human condition and the complexities of life. One of his most celebrated poems, "It Blows A Snowing Gale," is a masterpiece that captures the essence of winter and the power of nature.
The poem is a vivid description of a winter storm, with snow and wind battering the landscape. The opening lines set the tone for the rest of the poem, with the speaker describing the storm as "a snowing gale" that "blows like the end of the world." The use of the word "end" is significant, as it suggests that the storm is not just a natural occurrence, but a catastrophic event that has the power to destroy everything in its path.
The second stanza of the poem continues the theme of destruction, with the speaker describing the "crash of the trees" and the "roar of the sea." The use of onomatopoeia in these lines adds to the sense of chaos and violence, as the reader can almost hear the sound of the storm. The imagery of the "white waves" and the "black cliffs" also creates a stark contrast between the elements of the storm, emphasizing the power of nature.
The third stanza of the poem shifts the focus to the speaker's own experience of the storm. The use of the first-person perspective allows the reader to empathize with the speaker, who is "drenched and cold and grey." The repetition of the word "cold" emphasizes the physical discomfort of being caught in a winter storm, while the use of the word "grey" suggests a sense of emotional numbness or despair.
The fourth stanza of the poem introduces a new element, with the speaker describing the "ghostly ships" that are "driven before the gale." The use of the word "ghostly" creates a sense of otherworldliness, as if the ships are not quite real. This adds to the sense of danger and uncertainty, as the storm seems to be affecting not just the natural world, but also the human world.
The final stanza of the poem brings the focus back to the natural world, with the speaker describing the storm as a "mighty power" that is "greater than our will." The use of the word "power" emphasizes the strength and force of the storm, while the phrase "greater than our will" suggests that humans are powerless in the face of nature. The final line of the poem, "It has no pity, nor has it any love," reinforces this idea, as it suggests that the storm is a force of nature that is indifferent to human suffering.
Overall, "It Blows A Snowing Gale" is a powerful and evocative poem that captures the essence of winter and the power of nature. Through vivid imagery and powerful language, Robert Louis Stevenson creates a sense of chaos and destruction, while also exploring the human experience of being caught in a winter storm. The poem is a testament to Stevenson's skill as a poet, and remains a classic of English literature to this day.
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