• Alliteration:

Alliteration is a literary device in which certain sounds are repeated at the beginning of words in a sentence or phrase.

The poet has used this device in the following lines.

A frosty, fiery sleepy-head;

• Personification:

Personification is a poetic device where animals, plants or even inanimate objects are given human qualities.

The poet Stevenson has used this device in the following lines.

Late lies the wintry sun a-bed,

A frosty, fiery sleepy-head;

Blinks but an hour or two; and then,

In these lines the Sun is personified.

• Oxymoron:

An oxymoron is a literary device combining oppositional words to create a unique word or phrase.

The poet has used this device in the following lines.

By the cold candle, bathe and dress.

The cold wind burns my face, and blows

In these lines has used two opposites words that looks contradictory to convey a very specific idea

In the term “Cold candle” to convey the coldness. In the same way the phrase “cold wind burn” describes the domination of cold in the atmosphere.

• Juxtaposition:

Juxtaposition is a literary device where two things are placed side by side so as to highlight their differences.

The poet has used this device in the following lines.

Late lies the wintry sun a-bed,

A frosty, fiery sleepy-head;

In these lines, the poet has kept two contrasting words next to one another. For example, “wintery sun” and “frost, fiery sleep-head.”

• Simile:

A simile is a literary device that directly compares two things. While comparing two things the following words are used such as “like”, “as”, “so”, or “than”.

The poet Stevenson has used this device in the following lines.

Thick blows my frosty breath abroad;

And tree and house, and hill and lake,

Are frosted like a wedding-cake.

Here, the snow covered trees, hills, houses and lakes are compared to a frosted wedding cake.

Winter-Time Summary

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