Skip to main content

How did Robert Frost's life influence his poetry?

The span of poet Robert Frost's life (1874–1963) affected his poetry, as both his life and the forms of his poetry embraced both 19th century and more modern 20th century styles. For example, while maintaining the traditional meters of poetry, he embraced a more modern, direct style. He used the traditional meter of poetry, not free verse as modern poets did, and he also kept to traditional line lengths. However, like modern poets, he included...

The span of poet Robert Frost's life (1874–1963) affected his poetry, as both his life and the forms of his poetry embraced both 19th century and more modern 20th century styles. For example, while maintaining the traditional meters of poetry, he embraced a more modern, direct style. He used the traditional meter of poetry, not free verse as modern poets did, and he also kept to traditional line lengths. However, like modern poets, he included dialogue in his poems, in works such as "The Housekeeper," in New England vernacular language. 


In addition, his works came out of the years he spent living in New England, where his family returned in 1884. His ancestors were New Englanders, and he incorporated a sense of the land, particularly the countryside of New Hampshire, into his works. From 1915 on, he spent some of his time at a farm in Franconia, New Hampshire. In poems such as "After Apple-Picking," he is able to endow nature with a sense of wonder and the sublime, as the apples he picked become part of a dream in which "magnified apples appear and disappear." 


Frost also experienced tremendous personal loss. His father died when he was 11, and several of his children died young, as did his wife. In addition, mental illness ran in his family, and he suffered from depression. This sense of loss, along with melancholy, surfaces in his works, such as "Reluctance," in which he speaks of dead leaves scattered on the ground and the end of the season. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

What is the meaning of "juggling fiends" in Macbeth?

Macbeth is beginning to realize that the three witches have been deceiving him since he first encountered them. Like jugglers, they have kept changing their forecasts in order create confusion. This is particularly apparent when the Second Apparition they raise in Act IV,   Scene 1 tells him that no man of woman born can overcome him in hand-to-hand battle--and then Macbeth finds himself confronted by the one man he has been avoiding out of a... Macbeth is beginning to realize that the three witches have been deceiving him since he first encountered them. Like jugglers, they have kept changing their forecasts in order create confusion. This is particularly apparent when the Second Apparition they raise in Act IV,   Scene 1 tells him that no man of woman born can overcome him in hand-to-hand battle--and then Macbeth finds himself confronted by the one man he has been avoiding out of a sense of guilt, and that man tells him: Despair thy charm. And let the angel whom thou still hast serve...
Post a Comment
Read more

In Martel's Life of Pi, how does writing a diary help Pi Patel build on his leadership skills?

At the end of chapter 73, Pi first divulges the fact that he had started a diary after about a week alone at sea. Pi claims that he wrote about "practical stuff" (208) such as what he caught for food, foreseeable problems and solutions, Richard Parker, and reflections about specific events that occurred. In a sense, Pi is the captain of his ship; therefore, he must take responsibility for himself and his crew. He can... At the end of chapter 73, Pi first divulges the fact that he had started a diary after about a week alone at sea. Pi claims that he wrote about "practical stuff" (208) such as what he caught for food, foreseeable problems and solutions, Richard Parker, and reflections about specific events that occurred. In a sense, Pi is the captain of his ship; therefore, he must take responsibility for himself and his crew. He can do this by writing down events, problems and solutions, and reflections to look back on when confronted with repeated problems. It can ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Why did Tybalt attack and kill Mercutio instead of Romeo, who he had originally been targeting?

Though Tybalt's quarrel is with Romeo, he begins the momentous duel in Act 3 by fighting with and killing Mercutio instead. Tybalt ultimately attacks Mercutio because the garrulous and hot-headed character insults Tybalt and goads him into a duel to protect Romeo's honor. From the beginning of the encounter in Act 3, Scene 1, it's clear that Mercutio is itching for a fight. For instance, when Tybalt signals that he wants to talk to Mercutio... Though Tybalt's quarrel is with Romeo, he begins the momentous duel in Act 3 by fighting with and killing Mercutio instead. Tybalt ultimately attacks Mercutio because the garrulous and hot-headed character insults Tybalt and goads him into a duel to protect Romeo's honor. From the beginning of the encounter in Act 3, Scene 1, it's clear that Mercutio is itching for a fight. For instance, when Tybalt signals that he wants to talk to Mercutio and Benvolio, Mercutio responds "And but one word with one of us?/ Couple it w...
Post a Comment
Read more