Snow-Bound
The story takes place during a severe snowstorm that isolates the family at their rural home. The narrator's father is injured and unable to leave the house, so the rest of the family must fend for themselves. They are forced to rely on each other for support and companionship as they wait out the storm.
By John Greenleaf Whittier · First published 1847 · Genre: Narrative Poetry, Nature Poetry, Lyric Poetry · 5,526 words
First lines
The sun that brief December day Rose cheerless over hills of gray, And, darkly circled, gave at noon A sadder light than waning moon. Slow tracing down the thickening sky Its mute and ominous prophecy, A portent seeming less than threat, It sank from sight before it set. A chill no coat, however stout, Of homespun stuff could quite shut out, A hard, dull bitterness of cold, That checked, mid-vein, the circling race Of life-blood in the sharpened face, The coming of the snow-storm told. The wind blew east: we heard the roar Of Ocean on his wintry shore, And felt the strong pulse throbbing there Beat with low rhythm our inland air.
What this Textopian page supports
Snow-Bound is listed on Textopian as a poem by John Greenleaf Whittier, dated 1847 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: John Greenleaf Whittier
- Date: 1847 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Narrative Poetry, Nature Poetry, Lyric Poetry, Pastoral Poetry, Romantic Poetry
- Length: 5,526 words
- Structure: 1 section, 46 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Snow-Bound by John Greenleaf Whittier
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering Snow-Bound?
- How does this poem by John Greenleaf Whittier fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Narrative Poetry first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- The Ranger by John Greenleaf Whittier
- Revisited by John Greenleaf Whittier
- My Namesake by John Greenleaf Whittier
- The Pageant by John Greenleaf Whittier
- The Bay Of Seven Islands by John Greenleaf Whittier
- Marguerite by John Greenleaf Whittier
Genres
- Narrative Poetry — The work is primarily a long narrative poem that tells a story through verse.
- Nature Poetry — It vividly describes the natural environment and the impact of a snowstorm on the landscape and human experience.
- Lyric Poetry — The poem expresses personal emotions and reflections, particularly regarding family, memory, and loss.
- Pastoral Poetry — It portrays rural life and the simplicity of country living, emphasizing themes of home and nature.
Tags
Poetry · Narrative Poem · American Literature · 19th Century Literature · Winter Setting · Family Drama · Domestic Life · New England · Regionalism · Autobiographical Elements · Free Verse · Ballad Form