Student Question
In "Snow" by Louis MacNeice, what occasion appears to have triggered the poem?
Quick answer:
The poem "Snow" by Louis MacNeice is triggered by a sudden snowfall, which creates a rich, contrasting scene that inspires the poet. The juxtaposition of snow and pink roses against a bay window, along with the warmth of a fire, highlights the beauty and diversity of nature. This moment of natural beauty compels the poet to appreciate life's variety and the coexistence of seemingly incompatible elements.
This intriguing poem does not offer us a specific explanation of the event that birthed it. However, if we consider the poem as a whole and the various themes that run through it, perhaps we can move towards a tentative idea of the situation that triggered the poem. Consider the opening lines of the first stanza:
The room was suddenly rich and the great bay-window was
Spawning snow and pink roses against it
Soundlessly collateral and incompatible...
The reference to the snow and later on to the "fire" with its flames making a "bubbling sound" suggest that the event that triggered the poem occurred during winter with a sudden snow shower that forces the poet to see a huge number of contrasts in his setting, or things that are "incompatible." Not only do the "pink roses" seem incongruous given the snow outside, but also the fire is both "spiteful" and...
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"gay." The richness of life, as established in the first line, seems to owe itself to the juxtaposition of "Incorrigibly plural" and seemingly "incompatible" emotions and objects. This epiphany perhaps was triggered through the winter day that the poet is describing.
In "Snow" by Louis MacNeice, what occasion seems to have triggered the poem?
As Post #2 states, a snowstorm triggers the writing of the poem "Snow". The poet (Louis MacNeice) sees the rich beauty of the snow and the roses against the window. It is a sudden expression of natural beauty that the poet sees from inside his home. This scene overwhelms him -Â
The room was suddenly rich
The poet reveals that something as simple as a snowfall has the power to inspire and cause one to marvel at the wonder of a natural occurrence that we often take for granted. The poet appreciates this fine display of nature during the course of a regular day. He celebrates in a small way by peeling and portioning a tangerine; he is enjoying the feeling of variety and differences in life.