KS3 Poem: The Trouble With Snowmen Poem by Roger McGough

The Trouble With Snowmen

‘The trouble with snowmen,’
Said my father one year
‘They are no sooner made
than they just disappear.

I’ll build you a snowman
And I’ll build it to last
Add sand and cement
And then have it cast.

And so every winter,’
He went on to explain
‘You shall have a snowman
Be it sunshine or rain.’

And that snowman still stands
Though my father is gone
Out there in the garden
Like an unmarked gravestone.

Staring up at the house
Gross and misshapen
As if waiting for something
Bad to happen.

For as the years pass
And I grow older
When summers seem short
And winters colder.

The snowmen I envy
As I watch children play
Are the ones that are made
And then fade away.

Understanding the Poem

Overview

“The Trouble With Snowmen” by Roger McGough reflects on childhood memories, particularly the experience of building a snowman with his father. The poem explores themes of permanence, memories, and the influence of a parent.

Key Themes

1. Permanence vs. Impermanence: The speaker describes a snowman that his father built, which still stands despite the father’s absence. This raises questions about how things that last can also remind us of loss.
2. Childhood Memories: The snowman represents a joyful memory of childhood, but it also carries a sense of longing for the past and the father’s presence.
3. Parental Influence: The poem suggests that the father’s influence is deeply felt, which can be both comforting and painful.

Important Lines

• “And that snowman still stands. Though my father is gone.”

This line highlights the contrast between the snowman’s permanence and the father’s absence.

• “As if waiting for something.”

This suggests that the snowman symbolizes not just a memory, but also a sense of expectation or hope.

Questions for Understanding

Easy Level Questions (20)

1. Who built the snowman?
2. What did the father promise about the snowman?
3. Where is the snowman located?
4. How does the speaker feel about the snowman?
5. What does the speaker mean by “the snowman still stands”?
6. What might the snowman be waiting for?
7. How does the poem make you feel?
8. What season do you think this poem takes place in?
9. Why do you think the father wanted to build a snowman?
10. What does the snowman represent for the speaker?
11. Does the snowman change over time?
12. How does the speaker remember their father?
13. What word can describe the snowman’s condition?
14. What season is usually associated with snowmen?
15. Why is sunlight mentioned in the poem?
16. How do the children play in the poem?
17. What does “staring up at the house” suggest?
18. What is the tone of the poem?
19. What is one feeling the speaker expresses?
20. Do you think snowmen should be permanent? Why or why not?

Medium Level Questions (20)

1. What does the phrase “I’ll build it to last” imply about the father’s intentions?
2. How does the speaker’s relationship with their father affect their memories?
3. Why do you think the poet chose a snowman as a symbol?
4. Discuss the significance of the snowman “staring up at the house.”
5. In what way does the poem reflect on the passage of time?
6. How does the speaker connect the snowman to their father?
7. What emotions are evoked by the line “Though my father is gone”?
8. What does the poem suggest about the nature of memories?
9. How does the setting of the garden contribute to the poem’s meaning?
10. What can we learn about the speaker’s childhood from the poem?
11. Why might the author describe the snowman as “flawed”?
12. How does the imagery of sunshine and rain affect the poem’s themes?
13. What do the children playing represent in the poem?
14. How does the speaker reflect on their childhood while observing the snowman?
15. Discuss the idea of broken promises as it relates to the poem.
16. What does the poem suggest about the importance of fleeting moments?
17. How does the use of the word “waiting” impact the reader’s understanding?
18. In what ways does the poem balance joy and sadness?
19. How do you interpret the speaker’s feelings towards their father’s memory?
20. What message do you think McGough wants to convey through this poem?

Hard Level Questions (20)

1. Analyze the relationship between the snowman and the concept of memory in the poem.
2. Discuss the implications of the snowman being “cast.” What does this suggest about permanence?
3. How does McGough use contrast to enhance the themes of the poem?
4. In what ways does the poem reflect universal themes of loss and remembrance?
5. Explore how the poem’s structure contributes to its overall meaning.
6. What literary devices does McGough use to evoke emotion in the reader?
7. How does the poet’s choice of language create a sense of nostalgia?
8. Discuss the significance of the father’s absence in the context of the poem.
9. How does the imagery in the poem reflect the transient nature of childhood?
10. Analyze how the speaker’s internal conflict is portrayed throughout the poem.
11. In what ways does the poem challenge traditional notions of beauty and permanence?
12. How does the poem comment on the relationship between fathers and sons?
13. Explore the theme of waiting in the poem. What does it symbolize?
14. Discuss the role of nature in the poem and its impact on the speaker’s emotions.
15. How does the progression of time affect the speaker’s perspective on the snowman?
16. Analyze the emotional weight of the closing lines of the poem.
17. In what way does the poem suggest that memories can be both comforting and painful?
18. Discuss how the poem reflects McGough’s unique poetic style.
19. What is the significance of the snowman’s existence in relation to the father’s memory?
20. How might different readers interpret the poem based on their own experiences?

Answers and Explanations

Easy Level Answers

1. The father built the snowman.
2. He promised that it would last.
3. The snowman is in the garden.
4. The speaker has mixed feelings; it’s joyful but also sad.
5. It symbolizes lasting memories.
6. It suggests longing for the father.
7. It evokes nostalgia.
8. Winter or snowy season.
9. To create a lasting memory.
10. A joyful memory of childhood.
11. No, it remains.
12. The speaker misses their father.
13. Temporary or imperfect.
14. Winter.
15. To show that snowmen are affected by weather changes.
16. They play joyfully, symbolizing innocence.
17. It implies the snowman is a reminder of the past.
18. Reflective and sorrowful.
19. Sadness and longing.
20. It’s subjective; some may find it comforting, others sad.

Medium Level Answers

1. It shows he wants it to be special and memorable.
2. It shows how memories can be bittersweet.
3. It symbolizes childhood and innocence.
4. It suggests longing and hope for the past.
5. It adds depth to the themes of memory and loss.
6. The snowman connects the speaker to their father.
7. It evokes feelings of loss.
8. Memories can bring joy and sadness.
9. It represents a connection to childhood.
10. The speaker’s father made promises that weren’t fulfilled.
11. It suggests that permanence can lead to longing.
12. It shows the contrast between joy and sadness.
13. They represent the joy of childhood.
14. The snowman reminds the speaker of their father.
15. It shows the difficulty of moving on.
16. It implies a sense of waiting for closure.
17. They are complex emotions.
18. It blends childlike wonder with mature reflection.
19. It suggests the lasting impact of his father’s absence.
20. It can convey various meanings depending on the reader’s perspective.

Hard Level Answers

1. Memory is central; the snowman represents lasting memories.
2. It suggests that memories can be preserved but can also be painful.
3. Contrast highlights the joy of childhood against the pain of loss.
4. Loss is universal; everyone has memories that bring both joy and sadness.
5. Structure can mirror the passage of time.
6. Devices like imagery and metaphor evoke strong emotions.
7. Nostalgic language creates a longing for the past.
8. The absence deepens the speaker’s feelings of longing.
9. Nature shows the fleeting nature of childhood and happiness.
10. Internal conflict is expressed through the speaker’s reflections.
11. It challenges the idea that lasting things are always beautiful.
12. It explores the complexities of parental relationships.
13. Waiting symbolizes hope for reconnection or closure.
14. Nature reflects the speaker’s emotional landscape.
15. Time brings both clarity and pain about memories.
16. Closing lines emphasize the lasting impact of memory.
17. They can be comforting but also serve as reminders of loss.
18. His style is often playful yet poignant.
19. The snowman keeps the father’s memory alive.
20. Interpretation varies based on personal experiences with loss.

Feel free to ask if you would like to dive deeper into any part of the poem or its themes!