Question

Trent is reading these lines from "Winter-Time" by Robert Louis Stevenson.

Black are my steps on silver sod;

Thick blows my frosty breath abroad

Which fact would best help Trent understand this poem’s meaning?

A. Sod is another name for grass, and it often looks silvery white in the winter.
B. People often wear black shoes and warm gloves in the winter.
C. Many animals migrate to warmer climates during the winter
D. During the winter, the clouds are very thick and look silver in the sky.

Answer 1

A. Sod is another name for grass, and it often looks silvery white in the winter.

Step-by-step explanation:

Robert Louis Stevenson's poem "Winter-Time" paints a picture of an early snowy winter morning scene. The 5 stanza poem is narrated by an unnamed child who got up at dusk to observe the winter scene outside his home.

The given lines "Black are my steps on silver sod; Thick blows my frosty breath abroad" are from the last stanza. Here, the speaker uses the word "sod" to refer to the grasses that appear silver when covered with snow. So, when he stepped on the snow-clad grass, the imprint left is black as compared to the white outlay.

So, if Trent understands what sod means and understand how snow-clad leaves appear silvery, he will best understand the poem's meaning and what the speaker is talking about.

Thus, the correct answer is option A.