Homework 2/20

The repetition of the words black and cold are very important to understanding life on the wall.  Life there is very difficult.  It's always frigid cold and they don't get much of a reward for their efforts.  Being a soldier of the Night's Watch is a thankless job.  The usage of the word black in the chapter is used many times to demonstrate the rough and bleak life that is in store for the men of the Night's Watch.  It can also be used to describe the people of the watch.  Most have committed some bad deeds and have now a taint of their honor.  And for the most part so far in the book none of them seem to be too humous or excited people.  They have darker personalities, nothing like what we might see in the South.  They know that they have to spend the rest of their lives at The Wall.  Cold is also used many times in the chapter.  With the repetition of cold, Martin wanted to illustrate how hard and tough their job is going to be. He wanted to show the reader that their lives won't be too happy and that they will have to endure many hardships.