Boy At The Window Analysis

Words: 436
Pages: 2

In the eyes of a human, a snowman is nothing but a pile of frozen water. A child with a heart surrounded by warmth and love tends to see the snowman as suffering companion in the harsh weather. “Boy at the Window” by Richard Wilbur reflects on the distance of two separated worlds, the young boy and the snowman. These ideas are displayed through point of view, connation, personification, and irony. In the first stanza, the child’s point of view is shown through his actions and feelings for the weary snowman. Tearful, he views the snowman through lonely eyes and a longing heart. As the small boy “weeps to hear the wind prepare”, the snowman is “nonetheless content” outside. The snowman’s point of view conveys the reader to feel sorrow for the boys’ emotions. Although the snowman has no literal feelings, he is perceived …show more content…
“Dusk” and “cold” help to reflect on the harsh weather the snowman had to endure. “Trickle” and “purest rain” show how innocent the child was. Also the use of “pane” shows a greater meaning than just a window, it represents the internal “pain” the boy had to look amongst the “dying” snowman. Additionally, personification is beneficial in describing the characters. A snowman does not have feelings, but it is portrayed through the author’s diction that he has been brought to life. He is personified as frightened, yet sympathetic. As the author reveals these actions, the snowman and the boy form a bond that will soon be separated by the events to come. Ironically speaking, a boy and a snowman would never form a relationship, but during the poem it is clear that they connect. Irony is used to capture the true feelings between the boy and the snowman. The title is ironic because it does not simplify “boy”, it is stated as broad to show the universal meaning of the poem. Wilbur nevertheless contributes an all sorrowful, but joyful emotion through the snowman and the young