The little horse'is a lovely character-how does the poem tell us that he was more
than just a horse to pull a cart but a friend to the poet?
Answers
Answer:
The presence of the horse reminds us of the obligations that the speaker has yet to fulfill on his life's journey. He still has miles to go before he sleeps, before he comes to the end of his life, and he can only carry on with his journey by horse (i.e., if he keeps his promises). Without the horse, without the obligations that it represents, his life would effectively be at an end.
As the speaker pauses to survey the silent, wintry scene, the little horse shows its impatience by jingling its harness. Somehow, it seems to understand that the journey must continue and that the speaker must keep his promises. It is notable that it is the horse, the nagging sense of obligation that eats away at the speaker, that provides a rare sense of movement to the poem. For the speaker remains inert, seemingly unable to choose whether he should give up the ghost or continue on with his life with all its obligations.
Explanation:
Answer:
The presence of the horse reminds us of the obligations that the speaker has yet to fulfill on his life's journey. He still has miles to go before he sleeps, before he comes to the end of his life, and he can only carry on with his journey by horse (i.e., if he keeps his promises). Without the horse, without the obligations that it represents, his life would effectively be at an end.
As the speaker pauses to survey the silent, wintry scene, the little horse shows its impatience by jingling its harness. Somehow, it seems to understand that the journey must continue and that the speaker must keep his promises. It is notable that it is the horse, the nagging sense of obligation that eats away at the speaker, that provides a rare sense of movement to the poem. For the speaker remains inert, seemingly unable to choose whether he should give up the ghost or continue on with his life with all its obligations.