Jai guru dev

On a Night of Snow

-Elizabeth Coatsworth
I. Substitutes
II. Answer the following
1. Who is the speaker of stanza one? What does the speaker want to convey?
The speaker of stanza one is the owner of the cat. She wants the cat to stay indoors during the
stormy night.

2. How does the speaker try to coax Cat?

The speaker describes the chilliness of the night. The streets are covered with sheets of snow
which would make the cat’s feet cold. She tries to tempt Cat with a warm fireside and a saucer of
milk.

3. Why does the Cat want to go out? What does that reflect about cat?
Cat wants to play outside and discover the joys of the outdoors at night. He wants to hear the
strange whisperings of the trees, play in the meadow grasses filled with snow, and look for magical
omens in the air.
It tells us that Cat liked being outdoors and exploring the outdoors. He was not afraid of the
night or the cold.

4. The poem has two stanzas with two different perspectives. Explain the two contrasting points of
view presented by Mistress and Cat in the poem.
The poem has two stanzas. The first one tells us about the perspective of Mistress and the
second one tells us about the perspective of Cat.
According to Mistress, Cat should avoid going out in the cold stormy weather. The second stanza
gives us an entirely different perspective. Cat wants to go out and experience the thrill. He is not
afraid of stormy weather and dark night.
The two stanzas contrast the two speakers. Mistress is wary of the weather while cat is
adventurous. The wild winds are seen with caution by Mistress and the same winds attract cat to the
outdoors.

III. Extracts.
1. “See how the flames are leaping and hissing low,”
a. What is the literary device used in the above line?
The literary device used in the above line is ‘personification’.
b. Explain the literary device personification.
Personification is the attribution of human characteristics to something non-human, or the
representation of an abstract quality in human form.
c. Describe how the literary device is used in the line?
The poet describes the flames of the fireplace burning dimly like a low hiss of a snake.

2. “ I will bring you a saucer of milk like a marguerite”.

a. Name the speaker of the above line.
The owner of the cat is the speaker of the above line.
b. Who is being addressed in the above line?
Cat is being addressed in the above line.
c. Identify the figure of speech in the line?
Simile.