Final answer:
The theme of "Those Winter Sundays" by Robert Hayden revolves around the complex nature of parental love and sacrifice.
Step-by-step explanation:
The theme of "Those Winter Sundays" by Robert Hayden is the complex nature of parental love and sacrifice. The poem explores the relationship between a father and a son, and the speaker's realization of the father's love and the sacrifices he made. The theme is revealed through the use of vivid imagery, such as the imagery of warmth and cold, and the somber tone of the poem.
For example, in the lines "Sundays too my father got up early / and put his clothes on in the blueback cold," the speaker acknowledges the father's dedication and selflessness in waking up early on winter Sundays to warm up the house for his family.
In addition, the poem also highlights the theme through the use of symbolic elements like the metaphor of the father's hands, which represent both the father's physical labor and his emotional warmth.