The American poet Robert Hayden wrote "Those Winter Sundays" as a memory of his childhood. Reflecting on his past from the voice of a child who fears his father. As an adult, he now has a clearer picture of what his father endured and the sacrifices he made. A father who loves his family unconditionally and performs selfless acts for them. Robert Hayden in "Those Winter Sundays" explains through tone, imagery and symbolism the love of a father who sacrifices himself for his family and does not require reciprocity. The tone is one of sadness and regret, as Hayden remembers when he was little. He regrets not appreciating his father enough and all he did for the family. In tone, the boy speaks of his father: “Speaking indifferently to him, who had chased away the cold/ and polished my good shoes too.” Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original EssayThe speaker feels remorse in the way he spoke to the one who sacrificed his mornings to keep the house warm. He may shine his shoes, but his father does it because he cares about his son. The boy remembers that no one appreciated the man of the house. The thought comes to him: “No one has ever thanked him”. There is sadness in the tone, as Hayden understands that neither he nor another family member have expressed their gratitude. The father woke up before the sun rose to provide for the family's needs. By sacrificing his mornings, the father prepares the day for his loved ones even if they have not thanked him. Newell 2Robert Hayden's use of imagery helps to visualize that the father's first priority is his family. First, the speaker says, “he wears his clothes in the cold blue-black.” Hayden paints the picture that the day has yet to begin. The father rises before the sun on winter mornings to heat the house for his family, so that they do not have to live in a cold house. He doesn't want his family to have to wake up to the same freezing temperatures he endured. Before the boy's day began, "I would wake up and feel the cold chipping, breaking." While the speaker stays in his house, he can hear his father chopping wood. A visual image creates a harsh and chilling environment that shows the hardships endured by the father. The father shows his love by getting up early to chase away the cold. Furthermore, the symbolism represents the meaning behind what Hayden says. There is hidden love in the father's actions. He cut wood for the fire, "with chapped hands that ached / from weekday work making / burning the fires." The father wakes up early even on Sunday, the day of rest, to bring warmth to his family. Even though no one thanked him, he continued to provide for them. The temperature of the rooms and the climate are symbolic for his father, cold and reserved. The title of the poem indicates the time of year which signifies cold weather. It is the indifference and discord between father and son. The speaker reflects on his adolescent ignorance: "what did I know/ of austere love...". His father performs acts of love such as bringing warmth from the fire to the house. His father does not verbalize his love, but demonstrates it. The speaker recounts the ignorance of youth that his father persists in despite his family's lack of recognition. Robert Hayden reflects on his past thinking about what his father had done for his family. As an adult, the speaker has a greater appreciation for the sacrifices made and comes to understand the form of his father's love. When the speaker was a child, wisdom was lacking. With age Newell 3 comes to maturity, experience and understanding of altruism which.