The Role of Robert Frost's Life in His Art

Throughout the vast collection of American literature, very few individuals have attained a position as distinguished as Robert Frost within literature. Even after his death in 1963, he is still remembered today for his great literary works. Although Robert Frost is heavily associated with New England, especially within his poetry, he is actually born in San Francisco. Robert Frost is born on March 26, 1874 to William Frost Jr., and Isabelle Moodie. While Robert Frost is 11 years old his father passes away from tuberculosis, leading the family to move to Lawrence, Massachusetts. The family moves in with Frosts grandparents and Frosts attends Lawrence High School. It is during the years spent here that Frosts meets his wife Elinor White. Frosts attends Dartmouth College in 1892, but drops out soon after before the end of the first term. (Burnshaw, Hass 55)

Upon returning to Lawrence Frosts works a variety of different jobs such as a schoolteacher, reporter and even a mill hand. Frosts tries his hand at college again enrolling into Harvard University but soon drops out again due to illness. Around this time Frosts and his wife welcome the first of their 5 children, two of whom will pass away a couple years later. These times prove to be a struggle for the family and they move once again to a farm that Frosts purchases with the help of his grandfather. Although Frost has a deep love of nature his love of writing prevails. He often wastes away late into the night writing and neglects the responsibilities of the farm. Unable to maintain the upkeep of the farm, Frosts returns to a prosperous career in teaching and continues his writings. (Burnshaw, Hass 55)

Throughout Frosts lifetime he receives multiple honorary degrees and 4 Pulitzer Prizes. He receives a prize for his works New Hampshire, Collected Poems, Further Range and A Witness Tree. (Hass 55) It seems that the truly great poets that stay relevant in our day and age are the ones that are able to capture not only the beauty of their subject matter, but also being able to shape the poems to convey their meaning. A majority of Frosts work is beautifully simple on the surface and usually involves details portraying the splendor of New England landscape. Many of Frosts poems are also rich with hidden meanings hidden under his word choices, imagery and even the structure of the poems. Robert Frost poetry incorporates nature, universal themes and symbolism while also drawing heavy influence from his own life.

Robert Frost’s poems are mainly centered around landscape and wildlife that many critics consider him a nature poet. (Lynen) In many of his poems, the importance of nature is apparent in all of his collections of works. This could be a result of the time he spent in New England, since the majority of descriptive rural scenes are inspired by specific locations. Frost, however does not stay limited and focuses on much more dramatic struggles. This is apparent in poems such as “After Apple-Picking” that touches on the conflict of the changing of seasons. (Owens 35-37) Another example one could look at is “Once by the Pacific” that explores the destructive side of nature. (Borroff 131) Frost also presents contrasts between nature and man, where nature is portrayed as something that is foreign. (Borroff 131) Nature is a central concept that lays the foundation of the many poems of Robert Frost, and is not just simply a background.

Although nature forms the backbone of Frosts poems, universal themes are also heavily used within his poetry. Even though the work of Robert Frost is simplistic, he is able to construct hidden meanings in his work. In “After Apple-Picking” the casualty of the piece will often lead the reader to miss the deeper meaning hidden within the words. (Owens 35-37)Upon further analysis the theme is revealed as being centered on the concept of labor and reward. (Owens 35-37) Being rewarded for hard work is a universal concept that everyone can relate to at some point in their lives. When the speaker states the lines the “essence of winter sleep is on the night, the scent of apples”, he is aware of the success reaped from his efforts and continues on looking forward. (Warren 1-10) Another universal theme that is apparent in some poems is isolation, the sense of being alone. Poems such as “Mending Wall” and “Tufts of Flowers” explore the capacity of human’s abilities to connect with one another. (Coulthard 40-42, Warren 1-10)

Since Frosts poems are simple, they are riddled with hidden meanings. Frosts achieves this by using symbolism to associate deep meaning and feelings within his poetry. Various aspects of nature are often used to symbolize different things. In a rather gloomy poem titled “Bereft”, the bleak landscape described within the poem portrays the extent of the speaker’s loneliness. (Lynen) Another example can be seen in the poem “Nothing Gold Can Stay”. (Warren 1-10) The poem seems mainly descriptive until the last line stating the loss of beauty. The loss of beauty within the poem is linked to the loss of innocence within the Eden. (Warren 1-10) Analogies, metaphors and symbolism are all apparent in frosts poems to help relay deeper meanings.

The personal life of Robert Frost plays distinctive role in his poetry. Frosts goes through many changes in his life and his poetry is a reflection of himself. His love of nature is the main reason he acquires a farm and is shown in many of his poems. This is also linked as the reason for his descriptive images to portray certain feelings within his poetry. As Frost is going on through life he faces many changes and choices. Poems such as “The Road Not Taken”, describing the agonizing choice of having to choose between two roads, illustrates the struggles that he had to endure. (Wilcox) As with any writer, Frosts uses his poetry as a creative outlet to relieve the stress that he deals with in everyday life. But for all of his struggles he achieves success, a universal concept that everyone can relate to as expressed in his own poems. Robert Frost remains still remains today as one of the most prestigious poets of American Literature.

Throughout the vast collection of American literature, very few individuals have attained a position as distinguished as Robert Frost within literature. Even after his death in 1963, he is still remembered today for his great literary works. Although Robert Frost is heavily associated with New England, especially within his poetry, he is actually born in San Francisco. Robert Frost is born on March 26, 1874 to William Frost Jr., and Isabelle Moodie. While Robert Frost is 11 years old his father passes away from tuberculosis, leading the family to move to Lawrence, Massachusetts. The family moves in with Frosts grandparents and Frosts attends Lawrence High School. It is during the years spent here that Frosts meets his wife Elinor White. Frosts attends Dartmouth College in 1892, but drops out soon after before the end of the first term. (Burnshaw, Hass 55)

Upon returning to Lawrence Frosts works a variety of different jobs such as a schoolteacher, reporter and even a mill hand. Frosts tries his hand at college again enrolling into Harvard University but soon drops out again due to illness. Around this time Frosts and his wife welcome the first of their 5 children, two of whom will pass away a couple years later. These times prove to be a struggle for the family and they move once again to a farm that Frosts purchases with the help of his grandfather. Although Frost has a deep love of nature his love of writing prevails. He often wastes away late into the night writing and neglects the responsibilities of the farm. Unable to maintain the upkeep of the farm, Frosts returns to a prosperous career in teaching and continues his writings. (Burnshaw, Hass 55)

Throughout Frosts lifetime he receives multiple honorary degrees and 4 Pulitzer Prizes. He receives a prize for his works New Hampshire, Collected Poems, Further Range and A Witness Tree. (Hass 55) It seems that the truly great poets that stay relevant in our day and age are the ones that are able to capture not only the beauty of their subject matter, but also being able to shape the poems to convey their meaning. A majority of Frosts work is beautifully simple on the surface and usually involves details portraying the splendor of New England landscape. Many of Frosts poems are also rich with hidden meanings hidden under his word choices, imagery and even the structure of the poems. Robert Frost poetry incorporates nature, universal themes and symbolism while also drawing heavy influence from his own life.

Robert Frost’s poems are mainly centered around landscape and wildlife that many critics consider him a nature poet. (Lynen) In many of his poems, the importance of nature is apparent in all of his collections of works. This could be a result of the time he spent in New England, since the majority of descriptive rural scenes are inspired by specific locations. Frost, however does not stay limited and focuses on much more dramatic struggles. This is apparent in poems such as “After Apple-Picking” that touches on the conflict of the changing of seasons. (Owens 35-37) Another example one could look at is “Once by the Pacific” that explores the destructive side of nature. (Borroff 131) Frost also presents contrasts between nature and man, where nature is portrayed as something that is foreign. (Borroff 131) Nature is a central concept that lays the foundation of the many poems of Robert Frost, and is not just simply a background.

Although nature forms the backbone of Frosts poems, universal themes are also heavily used within his poetry. Even though the work of Robert Frost is simplistic, he is able to construct hidden meanings in his work. In “After Apple-Picking” the casualty of the piece will often lead the reader to miss the deeper meaning hidden within the words. (Owens 35-37)Upon further analysis the theme is revealed as being centered on the concept of labor and reward. (Owens 35-37) Being rewarded for hard work is a universal concept that everyone can relate to at some point in their lives. When the speaker states the lines the “essence of winter sleep is on the night, the scent of apples”, he is aware of the success reaped from his efforts and continues on looking forward. (Warren 1-10) Another universal theme that is apparent in some poems is isolation, the sense of being alone. Poems such as “Mending Wall” and “Tufts of Flowers” explore the capacity of human’s abilities to connect with one another. (Coulthard 40-42, Warren 1-10)

Since Frosts poems are simple, they are riddled with hidden meanings. Frosts achieves this by using symbolism to associate deep meaning and feelings within his poetry. Various aspects of nature are often used to symbolize different things. In a rather gloomy poem titled “Bereft”, the bleak landscape described within the poem portrays the extent of the speaker’s loneliness. (Lynen) Another example can be seen in the poem “Nothing Gold Can Stay”. (Warren 1-10) The poem seems mainly descriptive until the last line stating the loss of beauty. The loss of beauty within the poem is linked to the loss of innocence within the Eden. (Warren 1-10) Analogies, metaphors and symbolism are all apparent in frosts poems to help relay deeper meanings.

The personal life of Robert Frost plays distinctive role in his poetry. Frosts goes through many changes in his life and his poetry is a reflection of himself. His love of nature is the main reason he acquires a farm and is shown in many of his poems. This is also linked as the reason for his descriptive images to portray certain feelings within his poetry. As Frost is going on through life he faces many changes and choices. Poems such as “The Road Not Taken”, describing the agonizing choice of having to choose between two roads, illustrates the struggles that he had to endure. (Wilcox) As with any writer, Frosts uses his poetry as a creative outlet to relieve the stress that he deals with in everyday life. But for all of his struggles he achieves success, a universal concept that everyone can relate to as expressed in his own poems. Robert Frost remains still remains today as one of the most prestigious poets of American Literature.