Robert Frost - Poetry Begins in Delight & Ends in Wisdom - Essay
“Poetry begins in delight and ends in wisdom” – Robert Frost Essay
Danielle Sims
Robert Frost was a poet who wrote traditional poetry that opposed the free verse styles and “no rules” system of the modernist poets who wrote at the same time in the early 1900s. His poetry is deceptively simple, commonly using colloquial language which flows just as naturally as speech. Whilst Frost is a poet who seems to be simplistic in his writing styles, his rhyming schemes are surprisingly sophisticated, often using iambic pentameter or blank verse. This, along with the use of colloquial language amounts to poetry which is intricately formed and subtly beautiful; often allowing the meaning to be overlooked. Frost is renowned for his descriptive use of nature, simplistic and timeless; to metaphorically imitate difficult aspects of life, in an era which was becoming increasingly complex. In that sense, we, as readers, can initially appreciate the understated beauty of his cleverly used language, and are rewarded with beautiful imagery. However, when we consider the concepts which are explored in a poem by Robert Frost, we are then rewarded with knowledge, insight and, essentially; wisdom. When reading Frost’s poetry, we are delighted by the exquisite use of imagery and assonance, and then rewarded with wisdom which is conveyed through metaphors. However, readers are not the only ones who are delighted or gain wisdom; and I believe that as a poet, Robert Frost would have taken his wisdom (often harsh) and turned it into something more delightful through his poetry.
Delight can be defined as something that gives great pleasure or enjoyment and this delight can come through the use of imagery, assonance and colloquial language. A poem by Robert Frost that uses all of these conventions and could certainly be considered delightful is “Stopping by the Woods on a Snowy Evening”. The title itself already paints a serene image in our mind, one which is soft and delicate. Assonance is
Danielle Sims
Robert Frost was a poet who wrote traditional poetry that opposed the free verse styles and “no rules” system of the modernist poets who wrote at the same time in the early 1900s. His poetry is deceptively simple, commonly using colloquial language which flows just as naturally as speech. Whilst Frost is a poet who seems to be simplistic in his writing styles, his rhyming schemes are surprisingly sophisticated, often using iambic pentameter or blank verse. This, along with the use of colloquial language amounts to poetry which is intricately formed and subtly beautiful; often allowing the meaning to be overlooked. Frost is renowned for his descriptive use of nature, simplistic and timeless; to metaphorically imitate difficult aspects of life, in an era which was becoming increasingly complex. In that sense, we, as readers, can initially appreciate the understated beauty of his cleverly used language, and are rewarded with beautiful imagery. However, when we consider the concepts which are explored in a poem by Robert Frost, we are then rewarded with knowledge, insight and, essentially; wisdom. When reading Frost’s poetry, we are delighted by the exquisite use of imagery and assonance, and then rewarded with wisdom which is conveyed through metaphors. However, readers are not the only ones who are delighted or gain wisdom; and I believe that as a poet, Robert Frost would have taken his wisdom (often harsh) and turned it into something more delightful through his poetry.
Delight can be defined as something that gives great pleasure or enjoyment and this delight can come through the use of imagery, assonance and colloquial language. A poem by Robert Frost that uses all of these conventions and could certainly be considered delightful is “Stopping by the Woods on a Snowy Evening”. The title itself already paints a serene image in our mind, one which is soft and delicate. Assonance is
Bibliography: “The Road Not Taken”, N.D., No Author, visited 29th/3rd/2012, http://www.sparknotes.com/poetry/frost/section7.rhtml “Robert Frost”, 27th/3rd/2012, No Author, visited 28th/3rd/2012, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Frost#Early_years “Stopping by the Woods on a Snowy Evening”, N.D., No Author, visited 30th/3rd/2012, http://www.fofweb.com/Lit/default.asp