Read the poem.
to winter
by william blake
“o winter! bar thine adamantine doors:
the north is thine; there hast thou built thy dark
deep-founded habitation. shake not thy roofs,
nor bend thy pillars with thine iron car.”
he hears me not, but o’er the yawning deep
rides heavy; his storms are unchain’d, sheathed
in ribbed steel; i dare not lift mine eyes,
for he hath rear’d his sceptre o’er the world.
lo! now the direful monster, whose skin clings
to his strong bones, strides o’er the groaning rocks:
he withers all in silence, and his hand
unclothes the earth, and freezes up frail life.
he takes his seat upon the cliffs; the mariner
cries in vain. poor little wretch! that deal’st
with storms, till heaven smiles, and the monster
is driv’n yelling to his caves beneath mount hecla.
adamantine: unbreakable
sheathed: encased
sceptre: a staff symbolizing power
withers: shrinks; enfeebles
mount hecla: an icelandic volcano that was believed to be a gateway to hell
how does the personification of winter affect the overall mood of this poem?
(a) it creates a dark and foreboding mood through its description of winter’s acts.
(b) it creates a vengeful and hostile mood through its description of winter’s final destination.
(c) it creates a suspenseful and thrilling mood through its description of winter’s arrival.
(d)it creates a lonely and melancholic mood through its description of winter’s departure.