Question

Use the poem to answer the question.

The snow drifts into hills of white.

The imprints of his lonely plight

Lie deep beneath the fallen snow,

Lost to all but those who know

The truths that spurred this venture forth

From warmer pasts to its present course,

The words, the deeds, the thoughts untold-

The love that lost to a heart too bold.

Reflecting hues of the starless night,

The snow drifts into hills of white.

In 3-5 sentences, identify and explain at least two stylistic devices that the poet
uses to add interest and meaning to the poem.

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Answer 1

The poet uses repetition — the opening line "The snow drifts into hills of white" returns as a refrain — to create a cyclical, frozen stillness that underscores the persistence of grief and memory. Strong visual imagery and symbolism (snow, starless night, "imprints") evoke cold isolation while suggesting that the snow both hides and preserves past wounds and lost love. Musical devices like end rhyme and the triadic listing ("The words, the deeds, the thoughts untold") give the poem rhythm and emphasize the accumulation of unspoken feelings.