The Silken Tent
The Silken Tent
By: Robert Frost
Robert Frosts sonnet "The Silken Tent" sets up an analogy between a girl and a silken tent. Before I start to analyze the poem, I will give a brief explanation of what a sonnet is. In the book Literature and It's Writers it gives a great definition on page 750 it explains that a sonnet is short- generally fourteen lines long - and is written in a regular rhyme sequence, it is one of the richest and most durable forms of lyric poetry. The difference between a sonnet and other lyrics of poetry is the way the poet works with its theme. The Silken Tent She is as in a field a silken tent A At midday when a sunny summer breeze B Has dried the dew and all its ropes relent, A So that in guys it gently sways at ease, B
5 And its supporting central cedar pole, C That is its pinnacle to heavenward D And signifies the sureness of the soul, C Seems to owe naught to any single cord, D But strictly held by none, is loosely bound E
10 By countless silken ties of love and thought F To everything on earth the compass round, E And only by one's going slightly taut F In the capriciousness of summer air G Is of the slightest bondage made aware. G
Robert Frost is comparing a silken tent to a girl. He tries to show you that this girl is worry and care free in line 4 he says " gently sways at ease" , line 7 "sureness of the soul" and in line 9 "strictly held by none, is loosely bound". The central cedar pole represents the girl and the silken tent represents her dress which is made of a very rich, soft, smooth fabric- silk. The ropes function to attach the tent to the ground as a means of keeping it up. Metaphorically, the ropes of this girls life would be her connection to the earthly things of this world that keep her life together. The entire poem is a metaphor in an iambic pentameter form, it is fourteen lines long and has ten syllables in each line. You will find the personification as
By: Robert Frost
Robert Frosts sonnet "The Silken Tent" sets up an analogy between a girl and a silken tent. Before I start to analyze the poem, I will give a brief explanation of what a sonnet is. In the book Literature and It's Writers it gives a great definition on page 750 it explains that a sonnet is short- generally fourteen lines long - and is written in a regular rhyme sequence, it is one of the richest and most durable forms of lyric poetry. The difference between a sonnet and other lyrics of poetry is the way the poet works with its theme. The Silken Tent She is as in a field a silken tent A At midday when a sunny summer breeze B Has dried the dew and all its ropes relent, A So that in guys it gently sways at ease, B
5 And its supporting central cedar pole, C That is its pinnacle to heavenward D And signifies the sureness of the soul, C Seems to owe naught to any single cord, D But strictly held by none, is loosely bound E
10 By countless silken ties of love and thought F To everything on earth the compass round, E And only by one's going slightly taut F In the capriciousness of summer air G Is of the slightest bondage made aware. G
Robert Frost is comparing a silken tent to a girl. He tries to show you that this girl is worry and care free in line 4 he says " gently sways at ease" , line 7 "sureness of the soul" and in line 9 "strictly held by none, is loosely bound". The central cedar pole represents the girl and the silken tent represents her dress which is made of a very rich, soft, smooth fabric- silk. The ropes function to attach the tent to the ground as a means of keeping it up. Metaphorically, the ropes of this girls life would be her connection to the earthly things of this world that keep her life together. The entire poem is a metaphor in an iambic pentameter form, it is fourteen lines long and has ten syllables in each line. You will find the personification as