Robert Hayden's Poem 'Those Winter Sundays'

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Those Winter Sundays

Throughout life thus far, I have learned that there may be a certain time in life where you ponder back on with regret. Having haunting feelings of “if only” or “if I just knew then what I know now”, linger on your thoughts. Making one question how things could have turned out to be different if realized sooner. Unfournetly, these life lessons take the act of maturing and time to fully grasp. Which is exactly what occurred in Robert Hayden’s poem, “Those Winter Sundays.” The speaker is a man reflecting on his past as a child and his new found empathy toward his father for the love, sacrifices, and dedication he didn’t recognize as a child. Now an adult himself, the speaker has come to realize what regretfully had escaped him as a child. When in the past he was …show more content…
Also finial understanding how unloved and lonely that must have made his father feel.
The speaker truly shows his regret, sorrow, and new understanding for his father’s life long dedication to provide for him as a child. During childhood, we often forget to tell let the ones who care, love, and protect us the most how much it means to us. When looking back to his childhood he sees now that he did not perceive his father’s expressions of love, for what they were.
Robert Hayden’s short poem, “Those Winter Sundays.” shows us how having an ungrateful state of mind could become years of guilt. The speaker as a child could not fully recognize the sacrifices made for him by his father. Until he becomes much wiser and an adult himself does he truly see the love he received from his father every day. Reminiscing he feels sadness for never truly thanking his father, but is thankful he can see all he took for granted and appreciate his father at

Laws Poetry Analysis Essay

“Hindsight” Robert Hayden uses various elements in his poem, “Those Winter Sundays”, including diction and imagery, to show how the speaker matures in regards to feelings towards his home-life and his father. The speaker’s feelings of remorse for not showing gratitude for his father’s efforts serve as a message to all generations. This message is that one should look past the unpleasant aspects of life and appreciate the love and care that is received. Hayden demonstrates that focusing on the negative…

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Robert Hayden's Influence In American Poetry

inspiring people that dominate the English literature. Emily Dickinson, Robert Frost, Maya Angelou, and Walt Whitman are some well-known poets that students are forced to read about in their English classes. What makes them well known and popular poets are the way that they incorporate their actual lives into the poems. This can make the poem more memorable and interesting for the readers. Robert Hayden was known for this. Robert Hayden was a renowned African American poet, essayist, and educator…

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How Does Langston Hughes Use Symbolism In Mother To Son

These subtle indications of affection are the driving forces behind two poems written with the same theme: “Mother to Son” by Langston Hughes and “Those Winter Sundays” by Robert Hayden. In the two poems, the authors reveal the different ways in which parents show love for their children through point of view, imagery, and symbolism; however each poem deals with a different method of demonstrating their kindness. The two poems use different points of view to convey their similar messages to the reader…

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Those Winter Sundays Essay

8 October 2014 Reflection on “Those Winter Sundays” In his poem entitled “Those Winter Sundays”, Robert Hayden looks back on his childhood in Detroit, Robert Hayden looks back on his childhood in Detroit and recounts the ways his father cared for him and his family without being properly thanked. Hayden makes it clear that he is aware of his ungracious attitude at that time in his life, as he questions in the last lines “what did I know, what did I know of love’s austere and lonely offices?”. Regardless…

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Those Winter Sundays And Mother To Son Comparison Essay

These subtle indications of affection are the driving forces behind two poems written with the same theme: “Mother to Son” by Langston Hughes and “Those Winter Sundays” by Robert Hayden. In the two poems, the authors reveal the different ways in which parents show love for their children through point of view, imagery, and symbolism; however each poem deals with a different method of demonstrating their kindness. The two poems employ different points of view to convey their similar messages to the…

Words 1461 - Pages 6

Personal Response Essay

Mr. Werner In “Those Winter Sundays,” Robert Hayden is too young to acknowledge the unspoken love that his father has for him and too ignorant to appreciate his father’s efforts to provide and support his family. However, by the time Hayden is old enough to understand everything that his father did for him and his family, it is too late. This leaves Hayden overridden with guilt, as he regrets not being able to show his father the gratitude he deserved. I can relate to Hayden’s relationship with…

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One Day I Wrote Her Name Analysis

them or simply thinking or remembering about them, they are being brought back into reality once more. Simply a memory or eulogy can bring them back to life. In terms of writing, poetry in particular is useful in immortalization. In Robert Hayden’s “Those Winter Sundays” and Edmund Spencer’s “One Day I Wrote her Name”, the idea of immortalization is greatly focused on and demonstrates that poetry can primarily be utilized as a device of immortalization. In poet Edmund Spencer’s Amoretti series, the…

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Comparing My Papa's Waltz And Those Winter Sundays By Robert Hayden

heartfelt attempts at expressing appreciation can fall flat. Although the father's in "Those Winter Sundays" and "My Papa's Waltz" both love their sons, they express that love in completely different ways. In the poem "Those Winter Sundays" by Robert Hayden, the father is a hard working man, who is not appreciated by his family despite everything he does for them. The son talks about how his father gets up early on Sundays to warm the house even after working hard all week. The father warming the house…

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Essay on Those Winter Sundays

Those Winter Sundays In the poem Those Winter Sundays, Robert Hayden talks about a boy's dad that does not get enough appreciation for what he does everyday. Unfortunately sometimes families are forced into hard situations in life barely keeping their head above water. During these times there can be someone in your family that is doing an abundance amount of work but is not being recognized. The poem is written with a topic of appreciation, theme of love, and a dreary tone. Hayden's work talks…

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Figurative Language In Those Winter Sundays

Robert Hayden’s poem, “Those Winter Sundays,” is an adult looking back on a childhood memory and finally understanding how his father portrayed his love. The child was unable to understand his father’s love and affection since it took a different form than what is usually accustomed to. A cold environment and harsh relationship between father and son are created in the poem. This is evidenced by the harsh consonant sounds, metonymy, and the repeated question in the third stanza. The son later realizes…

Words 682 - Pages 3