A hard frost – Cecil Day Lewis
CONTEXTUAL INFORMATION IMAGERY
About the poet: METAPHOR –
Cecil Day Lewis was born in Ballintubber, in Ireland, in 1904 and died in 1. ‘A frost came in the night and stole my world/And left this changeling
1972. He was educated at Wadham College, in Oxford, and later became a for it – a precocious/Image of spring, too brilliant to be true;’ a
lecturer at the University of Cambridge. He also taught poetry at Oxford and changeling is a creature that is deceiving and this is the metaphor of the
Harvard universities. Lewis was named Poet Laureate of the United Kingdom frost the poet creates, to be distrustful of it and its beauty.
in 1968. His poetry is characterised by the introduction of modern diction 2. ‘But blossomers in crystal, stems of the mist’ and ‘The sun looks
and often addresses relevant social issues of the time, as well as the nature out, and the fields blaze with diamonds.’ The mist is a metaphor for
of relationships. the ephemeral, those dreams that do not turn into reality and yet
About this poem: appear real. The diamonds appear to be a metaphor for the
This poem describes the appearance of a hard frost that formed overnight. materialistic nature of people.
Think of the patterns that frost forms on glass, and how it sparkles in the EXTENDED METAPHOR – The poet uses ‘frost’ as an extended metaphor
early morning sunlight. to compare the image of frost formed ice crystals to represent the
The speaker comments on how the world’s appearance has been radically superficial in the world which by appearance holds a lot of promise but
altered by the layer of frost, and in such a way that suddenly the prove to have no lasting value.
surroundings seem almost spring-like (although the absolute opposite is the SIMILE – ‘blind tissue whence creation formed’ is a comparison of the
case). The glittering and sparkling of the reflected frost creates a bright mist which is impenetrably thick, which limits sight. This is also indicative
image but, as the speaker admits, this is ‘too brilliant to be true’ (line 3). The of the primitive matter from which nature formed.
speaker notes that as opposed to this fake appearance of spring, the ‘real’ PERSONIFICATION –
spring is beginning to make itself felt unnoticeably underground. • ‘came in the night and stole my world’ – frost is personified to be like a
The poem suggests that life is ever-changing and that change and growth sneaky thief.
starts within a person him or herself and comes to the fore at the right time • ‘the sun looks out’ – the sun is compared to person who is looking out
when needed. of a window observing the world that lay beneath.
• ‘mockery spring’ , ‘bridal gear’ and ‘raw country maid’ is a
personification of the ‘frost’ as one who creates a wonderful but
deceptive image that does not deliver on promise.
• ‘… the stiff clods unclenches their/Grip on the seeds and lets out future
breathe’ the personification of soil as being a restrictive force broken by
the frost is effective as the promise of new life is released.
ALLITERATION - The alliteration of ‘flounce and filigree’ (line 15) suggests
the disapproving tone of the speaker
STRUCTURE THEMES
• The poem consists of two stanzas written in free verse of 9 and 10 lines • Appearance vs reality – the beauty of frost is deceptive as it can be
each respectively. destructive too and life threatening too. However, given the right
• The first stanza describes the scene and the second stanza gives a deeper conditions it can facilitate a new beginning under the surface.
insight and meaning of the first. • Personal growth and development - the scene is a metaphor for quiet
• The use of enjambment creates a smooth flow as if the poet is thinking personal growth that people undergo in adversity. Much of what we
aloud describing the magical theme and its deeper meaning. see as beautiful and worthy is actually an illusion, and truly important
things in life are often things that are unseen and unappreciated.
CONTEXTUAL INFORMATION IMAGERY
About the poet: METAPHOR –
Cecil Day Lewis was born in Ballintubber, in Ireland, in 1904 and died in 1. ‘A frost came in the night and stole my world/And left this changeling
1972. He was educated at Wadham College, in Oxford, and later became a for it – a precocious/Image of spring, too brilliant to be true;’ a
lecturer at the University of Cambridge. He also taught poetry at Oxford and changeling is a creature that is deceiving and this is the metaphor of the
Harvard universities. Lewis was named Poet Laureate of the United Kingdom frost the poet creates, to be distrustful of it and its beauty.
in 1968. His poetry is characterised by the introduction of modern diction 2. ‘But blossomers in crystal, stems of the mist’ and ‘The sun looks
and often addresses relevant social issues of the time, as well as the nature out, and the fields blaze with diamonds.’ The mist is a metaphor for
of relationships. the ephemeral, those dreams that do not turn into reality and yet
About this poem: appear real. The diamonds appear to be a metaphor for the
This poem describes the appearance of a hard frost that formed overnight. materialistic nature of people.
Think of the patterns that frost forms on glass, and how it sparkles in the EXTENDED METAPHOR – The poet uses ‘frost’ as an extended metaphor
early morning sunlight. to compare the image of frost formed ice crystals to represent the
The speaker comments on how the world’s appearance has been radically superficial in the world which by appearance holds a lot of promise but
altered by the layer of frost, and in such a way that suddenly the prove to have no lasting value.
surroundings seem almost spring-like (although the absolute opposite is the SIMILE – ‘blind tissue whence creation formed’ is a comparison of the
case). The glittering and sparkling of the reflected frost creates a bright mist which is impenetrably thick, which limits sight. This is also indicative
image but, as the speaker admits, this is ‘too brilliant to be true’ (line 3). The of the primitive matter from which nature formed.
speaker notes that as opposed to this fake appearance of spring, the ‘real’ PERSONIFICATION –
spring is beginning to make itself felt unnoticeably underground. • ‘came in the night and stole my world’ – frost is personified to be like a
The poem suggests that life is ever-changing and that change and growth sneaky thief.
starts within a person him or herself and comes to the fore at the right time • ‘the sun looks out’ – the sun is compared to person who is looking out
when needed. of a window observing the world that lay beneath.
• ‘mockery spring’ , ‘bridal gear’ and ‘raw country maid’ is a
personification of the ‘frost’ as one who creates a wonderful but
deceptive image that does not deliver on promise.
• ‘… the stiff clods unclenches their/Grip on the seeds and lets out future
breathe’ the personification of soil as being a restrictive force broken by
the frost is effective as the promise of new life is released.
ALLITERATION - The alliteration of ‘flounce and filigree’ (line 15) suggests
the disapproving tone of the speaker
STRUCTURE THEMES
• The poem consists of two stanzas written in free verse of 9 and 10 lines • Appearance vs reality – the beauty of frost is deceptive as it can be
each respectively. destructive too and life threatening too. However, given the right
• The first stanza describes the scene and the second stanza gives a deeper conditions it can facilitate a new beginning under the surface.
insight and meaning of the first. • Personal growth and development - the scene is a metaphor for quiet
• The use of enjambment creates a smooth flow as if the poet is thinking personal growth that people undergo in adversity. Much of what we
aloud describing the magical theme and its deeper meaning. see as beautiful and worthy is actually an illusion, and truly important
things in life are often things that are unseen and unappreciated.
