Full Moon and Little Frieda

Full Moon and Little Frieda

A cool small evening shrunk to a dog bark and the clank of a bucket - 
And you listening. 
A spider's web, tense for the dew's touch. 
A pail lifted, still and brimming - mirror 
To tempt a first star to a tremor. 

Cows are going home in the lane there, looping the hedges with their warm 
wreaths of breath - 
A dark river of blood, many boulders, 
Balancing unspilled milk. 
'Moon!' you cry suddenly, 'Moon! Moon!' 

The moon has stepped back like an artist gazing amazed at a work 
That points at him amazed.

Explore how Hughes conveys the delight of this moment

Little Frieda’s vision of the moon is portrayed as being full of joy and delight. Through the use of aural imagery, Hughes successfully portrays the glee of the girl. He writes ‘‘Moon!’ You cry suddenly, ‘Moon! Moon!’ and by this he makes the listener become aware of the excitement faced by the girl. One realizes how the view of the moon thrills the child and through her ‘cry’ one can imagine hearing the sudden dynamism in her voice. The tension which had been building initially in the play is broken here as the child’s enthusiastic voice defines the climax of the cool evening in the English countryside. Thus, by mentioning the child’s passionate ‘cry’, Hughes successfully portrays the delight of the moment.

The whole poem is a delight of the nature, so he adds details of animals such as the spider and the barking dog. The atmosphere is described as very peaceful and calm. Furthermore, the moon is compared to an artist who has created this atmosphere, and the author expresses its delight towards it.