Essay on Symbols and Symbolism in the Poems of Robert Frost

Symbolism in the Poems of Robert Frost Nature has inspired countless poets from primitive times to the present. They have used it as a metaphor for virtually all human emotions-his stormy brow, her sky blue eyes, as wild as a summer storm. Very few, however, have so masterfully crafted their verse to fully express the range of nature’s power and influence, or suited the tone of a poem to encompass both human nature and ‘true’ nature. This is true in the poetic works of Robert Frost. The aspects of nature that are continually demonstrated in the poems of Frost symbolize both the physical world and its changes, and the nature of humans. It can easily be argued that Frost believed that little difference existed between†¦show more content†¦He would speak plainly of an emotion or a thought, and not use symbolism to represent the prolific possibilities that could lie within a simple subject such as the bee. All of Frost’s poems can be said to contain symbolism and more often that not it seems to be Frost’s goal to instill in the reader their own idea of what the symbolism may be. While there are multitudes of ways to use symbolism, there is also a multitude of possibilities within each and every poem, if not every line of his poems. Frost once said, ‘Poetry permits the one possible way to say one thing and mean another.’ (Frost and Nature, www.frostfriends.org) Frost’s greatest power lies within his mastery of association. This begins with observation and ends with a connection. ‘The figure (of a poem) is the same as for love, it begins in delight and ends in wisdom. A poem is a thought-felt thing,’ Frost said. (Frost and Nature, www.frostfriends.org) Robert Frost seems to use nature as a background. He usually begins a poem with an observation of something in nature and then directs the poem towards a connection to some human situation or concern. He has been quoted to say, ‘I am not a nature poet. There is almost always a person in my poems.’ (Frost and Nature, www.frostfriends.org) Frost believed that poetry should introduce ideas, but not takes sides. Therefore, he neverShow MoreRelatedCritical Analysis Of Robert Frosts The Road Not Taken1257 Words   |  6 Pagesthe path they have chosen in life? Robert Frost attempts to answer this question throughout the poem by using many literary devices. In other terms, the poet is alluding to a lesson in everyones life; Once a path is being determined, it is inevitable to change the choices because they are in the past. The poet uses imagery to create a visual picture in the readers head of two paths in the woods with the freedom to take either one, but the poet also u ses symbolism and repetition to really drive hisRead MoreEssay on The Intricate Meanings of Robert Frost s Poetry784 Words   |  4 PagesRobert Frost is considered by many to be one of the greatest poets of the twentieth century. Frost’s work has been regarded by many as unique. Frost’s poems mainly take place in nature, and it is through nature that he uses sense appealing-vocabulary to immerse the reader into the poem. In the poem, â€Å"Hardwood Groves†, Frost uses a Hardwood Tree that is losing its leaves as a symbol of life’s vicissitudes. â€Å"Frost recognizes that before things in life are raised up, they must fall down† (BloomRead MoreThe Road Not Taken By Robert Frost1025 Words   |  5 PagesThe Road Not Taken by Robert Frost is a deep poem. This poem is an autobiographical poem of Frost’s life. However Frost’s first intention in writing the poem was not to be taken seriously. He had written it mocking one of his fel low writing acquaintances because of indecision incidents his acquaintance had made while they would go on walks together. However, when people read the narrative much more seriously than it was intended to be. One of those people that took it seriously was the same acquaintanceRead MoreThe Inevitability of Death1315 Words   |  6 Pagesto hold it in one’s hand. Once that vapor has gone away, nothing can be done to get it back; only for those whose vapor has not gone to continue living. This theme has been taken on and used by many different writers, such as, Robert Frost in his poem, â€Å"Out, Out†. This poem is about a young boy who is cutting wood in his yard when his sister comes outside to tell him that it is time for dinner. Out of excitement, he loses control of the saw and cuts his hand terribly. He begs his sister not to letRead MoreThe Speaker of Birches by Robert Frost653 Words   |  3 Pagesâ€Å"Birches† is a poem written by Robert Frost that h as a speaker, imagery, and symbols. The speaker in this poem is Frost. He explains his perspective of the birch trees in first person. Imagery is a word, phrase, or sentence that shows an experience or object. There are numerous examples of imagery in this poem. Symbols are something in the poem that stands for something else. There are various symbols in â€Å"Birches.† In â€Å"Birches,† Frost talks about how he can view birch trees in winter that have bentRead MoreThe Road Not Taken By Robert Frost1287 Words   |  6 Pagesfate. Robert Frost is widely known for his examinations of philosophical topics, such as fate, that have generated influential writings and relatable themes. His ability to capture nature only furthers the beauty of these philosophies. â€Å"The Road Not Taken† depicts Frost’s ideas on decision making with the use of symbolism of two paths through poetry. The effects of the two paths and the difficulty of the decision are furthered through the tone used to describe the differences in paths. Frost createsRead MoreRobert Frost Essay example646 Words   |  3 PagesRobert Frost Robert Frost was the most popular American poet of the twentieth century. Most Americans recognize his name, the titles of and lines from his best-known poems, and even his face. Given his immense popularity, it is a remarkable testimony to the extent of his achievement that he is also considered to be one of the greatest, if not the very greatest, of modern American poets. #8230;the life and work of Americas premier poet- the only truly national poet America has yet produced(Parini23)Read MoreThe Road Not Taken Analysis987 Words   |  4 PagesRoad Not Taken is a poem written by Robert Frost. This poem is a great candidate to be one of the world s best and this analysis will unveil why it is so. The poetic devices used in the poem bring forth its deeper meaning which ultimately resonates with the reader s emotions. However not only this poem is great because of the literary experience it gives but it is also beautiful on a simple structural level. First lets look at the structural aspect of this poem. It contains four stanzasRead MoreThe Symbolism of the Birches839 Words   |  4 PagesOn the surface, the poem Birches by Robert Frost is simply about a man who would like to believe that birch trees are bent from young boys swinging on them, despite the evidence that it is merely a result of the ice-storms. Even with this knowledge he prefers the idea of the boys swinging from the trees because he was a birch swinger years ago and continuously dreams of returning and experiencing those pleasant memories once again. From a more explored and analytical point of view, the birch treesRead MoreSuide in The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost and Dreams of Suicide by William Meredith 1062 Words   |  4 Pagesâ€Å"Suicide Note† by Janice Mirikitani, â€Å"The Road Not Taken† by Robert Frost, and â€Å"Dreams of Suicide† by William Meredith are the three poems that connect together in several different ways. Not only do the poems link together, but the authors do as well. This paper will present biographical information about the authors, symbols throughout the poems, and the literary elements the authors chose to use in the poems. It will also explain how the symbols and literary elements that are used help emphasize the