Sample Close Reading, The Snow Man

"The Snow Man" has a lot to do with facing reality as it actually exists. The last line is the most important for this project. Stevens refers to "Nothing that is not there and the nothing that is" (15). There is a strong emphasis on negation, with two "nothings" and a "not." Facing reality means you cannot add your own thoughts, desires etc to what exists, that is, add "nothing that is not there." "The nothing that is" refers to the starkest of realities. Even if reality seems to offer you absolutely nothing you must accept it because that is all "that is."

NB: This is not terribly well written; I was in a rush, but the ideas are fine.

NB2: Adam, Eve, and Satan especially have problems with reality in PL.