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Chapter -3: The Walker of the Snow

The Walker of the Snow

1. Central Idea: The poem tells the story of a man who, while walking alone through a snowy and haunted valley, meets a ghostly figure. This mysterious encounter fills him with fear, and he is forever changed by the experience.

2. Themes :

  • Supernatural/Haunting: The poem centers on a ghost-like figure that haunts the snowy valley.

  • Fear and Isolation: The speaker feels alone, scared, and uneasy during his journey.

  • Nature’s Silence and Mystery: The quiet, snow-covered landscape adds to the eerie feeling.

  • Memory and Trauma: The speaker is haunted not just by the ghost, but also by the memory of the event.

3. Message (What the poem teaches us):

  • Some experiences can leave a deep emotional mark.

  • Fear of the unknown can be more powerful than anything else.

  • Nature, though beautiful, can sometimes feel cold, quiet, and frightening.

  • The past can still affect us, even long after the event.

4. Title Justification:  The title “The Walker of the Snow” refers to the mysterious figure (also called the Shadow-hunter) who walks silently beside the speaker through the snow. Since this ghostly presence is the main focus of the poem, the title is perfectly suited to the story.

5. Perspective (Point of View):

  • The poem is written in the first person – the speaker is telling his own story.

  • It gives a personal and emotional view of the frightening event.

  • The speaker warns his companion and the reader, sharing the fear he still feels.

6. Characters:

  • The Speaker – A man who once had a terrifying encounter in the snowy valley.

  • The Companion – The person traveling with the speaker in the present (mentioned briefly).

  • The Shadow-hunter / Walker of the Snow – The silent, ghostly figure who walks beside the speaker but leaves no footprints.

7. Key Points (Important Details):

  • The speaker is traveling through a snowy valley with a friend.

  • He remembers a past journey in the same valley on a December evening.

  • The valley is said to be haunted.

  • While walking alone, he felt lonely and scared, and wished for company.

  • A mysterious man in grey appeared beside him but didn’t speak.

  • The speaker noticed that the man left no footprints in the snow.

  • He realized this figure was a ghost – the Shadow-hunter.

  • He fainted in fear, and otter-trappers found him the next day, with white hair from shock.

  • Now, he warns his companion to hurry through the valley before nightfall.

Poetic Devices – The Walker of the Snow 

  1. Imagery – Descriptive language that creates a picture in the reader’s mind.
    Example: Cold, silent valley, rustling leaves, deep snow.

  2. Alliteration – Repetition of the same starting sounds.
    Example: (Imagined) “Shadow silently strode.”

  3. Symbolism – Objects or figures that represent deeper meanings.
    Example: The ghost = fear or death; snow = loneliness.

  4. Repetition – Repeating words or ideas for emphasis.
    Example: Repetition of fear, cold, and silence.

  5. Personification – Giving human traits to non-human things.
    Example: (Imagined) “The wind whispered.”

  6. Enjambment – When a sentence runs over to the next line without pause.
    Purpose: Keeps the flow, builds suspense.

  7. Tone – The poet’s attitude; here it is scary and mysterious.

  8. Mood – The feeling created in the reader; here it is tense and eerie.

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