1. The father’s actions include getting up before other members of the household, dressing in the “blueblack cold,” and bringing the “banked” fire back to life. These actions might symbolize—

a. energy and eagerness to start the day.

b. self-sacrifice for the sake of his family.

c. indifference to the extreme cold.

2. In the third stanza, the son mentions that, in addition to driving out the cold, his father had also “polished [his] good shoes,” another self-sacrificing deed. The act of polishing the shoes might symbolize—

a. pride or vanity.

b. loneliness.

c. kindness.

3. In addition to the actions of characters, setting can also have symbolic significance. The season is winter, often a universal symbol. In “Those Winter Sundays,” the cold, which is mentioned in every stanza—

a. contrasts with the warm feelings the son had for his father.

b. mirrors the lack of sympathy the son had for his father.

c. reveals that the speaker’s feelings toward his father remain unchanged.

4. The day of the week must be an important symbol. It is included in the title and is the first word in the poem. How does “Sunday” function symbolically in the poem?

a. Since Sunday is traditionally a day of rest, it emphasizes the father’s sacrifice.

b. Because the reader probably looks forward to the weekend, Sunday creates a warm, nostalgic tone.

c. Many people consider Sunday the loneliest day of the week.

All complete. Great job!