Analysis of "stopping by the woods on a snowy evening"
October 4, 2011
Poetry Essay
779 words
Analysis of Robert Frost’s “Stoping by Woods on a Snowy Evening” The Poem “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening” by Robert Frost is about an individual who stops, while riding his horse to look and ponder in the woods. The speaker struggles with the decision he must make to either stay in the vast and beautiful woods or to return to his home in the village. There is also a decision between actually stopping in the woods or to keep riding on by urges of his horse. In Robert Frost’s poem, “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening” he conveys the theme of decision making through the use of imagery, rhythm and personification. The speaker uses imagery to describe the environment and feeling of the woods clearly enough to give the reader a mental picture. In the second stanza, the speaker describes the spot where he chooses to stop and look by stating “Between the woods and frozen lake” (line 7). This line helps create the portrait of the landscape. He also uses imagery when speaking about his horse. The speaker says “He gives his harness bells a shake” (line 9). Through this line the reader gets an idea of what the horse may look like and also a clue into the time period in which this poem is set. The final stanza begins with the description of the woods; “The woods are lovely, dark and deep (line 13). This line helps the reader understand the speaker’s feelings about the woods. In choosing the word “deep”, it seems that the reader is far from others. This reinforces the theme of decision making because there is no one else around to help him make these decisions. Next, the speaker uses rhythm to help the fluidity of the poem and create a beautiful word flow. There are four stanzas, each composed of four lines. The last words in the first, second and fourth lines rhyme. In the second stanza the speaker says “My little horse may think it queer/ To stop without a farmhouse near/ between the woods and frozen
Poetry Essay
779 words
Analysis of Robert Frost’s “Stoping by Woods on a Snowy Evening” The Poem “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening” by Robert Frost is about an individual who stops, while riding his horse to look and ponder in the woods. The speaker struggles with the decision he must make to either stay in the vast and beautiful woods or to return to his home in the village. There is also a decision between actually stopping in the woods or to keep riding on by urges of his horse. In Robert Frost’s poem, “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening” he conveys the theme of decision making through the use of imagery, rhythm and personification. The speaker uses imagery to describe the environment and feeling of the woods clearly enough to give the reader a mental picture. In the second stanza, the speaker describes the spot where he chooses to stop and look by stating “Between the woods and frozen lake” (line 7). This line helps create the portrait of the landscape. He also uses imagery when speaking about his horse. The speaker says “He gives his harness bells a shake” (line 9). Through this line the reader gets an idea of what the horse may look like and also a clue into the time period in which this poem is set. The final stanza begins with the description of the woods; “The woods are lovely, dark and deep (line 13). This line helps the reader understand the speaker’s feelings about the woods. In choosing the word “deep”, it seems that the reader is far from others. This reinforces the theme of decision making because there is no one else around to help him make these decisions. Next, the speaker uses rhythm to help the fluidity of the poem and create a beautiful word flow. There are four stanzas, each composed of four lines. The last words in the first, second and fourth lines rhyme. In the second stanza the speaker says “My little horse may think it queer/ To stop without a farmhouse near/ between the woods and frozen