Characters:

The Speaker (Poetic Persona): The speaker is a tired apple picker. He has worked long and now feels sleepy. He stands between dream and wakefulness. He thinks about his work, life, and rest. His words show deep thought and weariness.

The Woodchuck: The woodchuck is a small creature mentioned at the end. It sleeps all winter. The speaker wonders if his own sleep will be like the woodchuck’s long winter sleep or like death. It symbolizes nature’s rest and the cycle of life.