23.2.10

Robert Frost

When I was in primary school I was required to memorize and recite one of Robert Frost's most famous poems, at the time I hated it but now that I am older I appreciate the experience. The poem that I am referring to is "The Road Not Taken" and it is now one of my absolute favorite poems. I now see that Frost was trying to tell the reader that just because a road well traveled may seem easier, it is not always the best choice and you should choose whichever path in your life that will lead you to success and happiness. "Fire and Ice" is another one of my favorite Frost poems, it is so beautiful in it's own short and concise way. It describes the two most powerful emotions in humanity and compares them to two of the most powerful forces in the universe; the burning fire of desire and the ice cold feeling of hatred. I am not entirely sure that I understand the message that Frost may have been attempting to convey in this poem but I do agree that if I could choose I would rather die by fire than ice. I believe that he may have been saying that he would rather die loved than hated but we can never be entirely certain because we are not the poet. “Acquainted With the Night” has always held a certain amount of curiosity for me as well. I too love to walk at night and be surrounded by the still of the night but I don't think that was the entire message in the poem. I have often gotten a feeling of old London streets when I read each line and thoughts of Jack the Ripper also come to mind. I have always wondered what Frost was trying to say in this poem, I mean was he an insomniac that took long walks at night or was he writing as a dark character who prowls the night? We can never be sure about the true meaning of this, or any, poem either but they will always hold separate meanings for every reader who like delve into the works of Robert Frost or any great author or poet.

1 comment:

  1. I think Acquainted dealt with Frost's emotional difficulties. He had been intimate with the darkness of humanity, lost sight of hope. He did this from the scene of a night's walk. Frost will often use this method of literal and metaphorical realities playing on each other. He was clever.

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