Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[learner12]

Hello, teachers!!

Jane stared up the darkling sky with its gray promise of snow.
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I am not sure about "gray promise of snow." Would you explain it?

Thank you in advance.

[Eric Thompson]

Dear learner12: 'Promise of snow' is a phrase that would be used by an author of literature or poetry, who wants to stretch the meaning of 'promise'. Normally, only people can 'promise' things. The author wants to say things in an unusual manner or style, to make his readers think a bit more. 'The gray promise of snow' is even more literary and stretches the already stretched. Of course, gray is just a color, but the author is trying to inject a mood to the color, the mood you feel when the sky is gray on a cloudy day--sad and somber. Ok? But, what is 'darkling'? I've never heard or seen it. There are 'dark', 'darkening', as adjectives...Well, I just looked up 'darkling' and found it in the dictionary. It means 'dark'. So, it's just a literary way of adding a few letters to the novel or poem, to make it seem more important. Crazy literature! --Eric

[learner12]

Dear Eric Thompson:

Thank you so much for your persuasive and great explanations.

Have a nice day!!