Robert Frost Essay Research Paper Lisa Asadoorian121798Intro

Robert Frost Essay, Research Paper

Lisa Asadoorian

12-17-98

Intro. To Lit

Robert Frost: A Distinguished Poet

Robert Frost is perhaps one of America’s best poets of his generation. His vivid images of nature capture the minds of readers. His poems appear to be simple, but if you look into them there is a lot of insight. Robert Frost spoke at John F. Kennedy’s inauguration. He is the only poet to have had the opportunity to speak at a presidential inauguration. Through his poetry people learn that Robert Frost is a complicated and intellectual man who has a place in many American hearts. (Richards P.10)

In order to understand where Robert Frost is coming from in his poetry it is important to learn about the experiences in his life. Robert Frost was born on March 26, 1874 in San Francisco. His father was from the northeast and his mother was a teacher. When he was ten years old his father died. After that Frost and his mother move to New England. Frost attended Dartmouth College and Harvard University, but did not get a degree from either school. Later on in his life he taught at Pinkerton Academy and he also taught at the Plymouth Normal School for one year. At this time in his life he decides to live a worry-less life and move out of New England. At the time he owns a farm but decides to sell it so he can use the money and move. (Worldbook)

During this time in his life his poetry is not published because there are not any editors that will publish his work. Some of his poems such as “October” and “My November Guest” were published in a few magazines. This gives some exposure for Frost, but not what he wants. Frost decides he needs to change his life. He is either going to move to England or Vancouver, British Columbia to see a friend. How Frost makes his decision is unusual. He decides where he is going to move by flipping a coin. Frost says “The coin chose England.” Going to England is a good choice for Frost. While he is in England he writes many poems such as, “Choose Greatly” and “Nothing but what we somehow choose.” These poems reflect greatly upon choosing what you want. Perhaps Frost does not choose to go to England but I’m sure he was glad that he goes. (Pritchard P.8)

Once Frost and his family went to England they situate themselves in Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire. This is the place near where “Milton finished Paradise Lost”. It is a very nice place where Frost could concentrate on his poetry. One of Frost’s first poems he wrote in England was called “In England.”

Alone in rain I sat today

On top of a gate beside the way,

And a bird came near with muted bill

And a watery breeze kept blowing chill

From over the hill behind me.

I could not tell what in me stirred

To hill and gate and rain and bird,

Till lifting hair and bathing brow

The watery breeze came fresher now

From over the hill to remind me.

This poem never had a chance to be published during Frost’s life. The poem is pretty self-explanatory. To me it is obvious that it is written while he is in England. The mention of rain and watery breezes give it away because England is surrounded by water. I believe that Frost knew that he could make his career work in England. The line “The watery breeze came fresher now From over the hill to remind me” makes me think that England would give him new inspiration. Everything he did in the states was behind him and now he has a clean slate. It is up to him to become the best poet that he can be. I believe that Robert Frost did become the best poet that he could. (Pritchard P.8-9)

One of Robert Frost’s best-known poems and my favorite is “The Road Not taken”. The meaning of the poem is simple. A man is walking in the woods and has to choose a path to walk down. Instead of taking the road the many others have taken, he takes the road that is not walked down much. What makes this poem so exceptional is that Frost was talking about his life. Should he live his life in an accustomed way or should he live a different life, as a poet. Frost lived his life the way he wanted, as a poet. It turned out very good for him. Frost won the Pulitzer Prize for poetry four times. Also as I mentioned before, he spoke at President Kennedy’s inauguration and the United Stated Congress voted him a citation in 1950 for his help to American thought and enlightenment and his images of American people. (Richards P.17)

Another poem that is a trademark of Frost is the poem “Mending Wall”. Frost writes this poem when he is in England. This poem is a reflection of the days when he is living on his farm in New Hampshire. This poem is about two neighbors who every year fix the stone wall that separates their property. What makes the poem somewhat ironic is that the neighbors really don’t speak to each other or for that matter even like each other very much. Yet every year the two neighbors fix the wall together.

One of the famous lines in this poem is “Good fences make good neighbors.” To me that line seems a bit derogatory. Saying “Good fences make good neighbors” is like saying that you’d rather have a fence for a neighbor than a human being. To me that is a little irritating. The quote displays that some people really don’t like many other people. Frost probably felt that his neighbor did not like him. His

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