Interpretation and Analysis of Wallace Stevens' The Snow Man

"The Snow Man" by Wallace Stevens is a poem which creates a unique dramatic situation through an effective imagery, and which compels the reader to employ another way of thinking in order to both understand the poem and realize its very theme. The first thing that is noticeable about the poem is that it is actually just one long, complex sentence. There is no rhyme, and there is no particular meter. Each foot varies: the …

…brings to mind the oft-repeated phrase, "presence of an absence." But the combination of these justifies the use of the word "behold," for it is truly majestic to "see" both what is there and what is not there. And so finally, this last line gives a satisfying conclusion to the poem, as it is the ultimate reward for all "one" has to go through, for giving up one's self, for "[having] the mind of winter."