Robert Frost Tone

Robert Frost wrote many magnificent works of poetry within his lifetime. Two of his poems that were written within seven years of each other, “The Road Not Taken” and “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening”, have such remarkable comparisons within each other. Frost plays on many aspects within each, while still keeping consistency of themes such as life, nature, and the emotions of the narrator and how they affect their lives and choices.
With the undertone of life being a key component, one speaks of a choice to make and how it can affect the life from that moment forward, the other hints at a life lived and reflection. The narrator in “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening” brings tones to light that he is more introverted and reflective. He
seems content to pause within the woods to watch the snow fall, even though it seems odd. This pause within the woods allows the audience to assume the speaker is older and worldlier, given that he or she wants to take the time to observe the woods fill with snow. They also show care about whose property they are on, something a younger person may not consider when gazing upon the scenery. Likewise the component of life is carried over, but in the opposite direction in Frost’s “The Road Not Taken”. As the narrator travels through the woods, he or she comes to a divergence of paths leading in two opposite directions. The metaphor the reader is left with is based upon the speaker’s life, as one path chosen will differ completely from another. Though the speaker’s age is not a part of this poem, the audience can come to the conclusion that the narrator is neither young nor old, but in the middle of their life. Being in this stage of life, the narrator could be looking at which path to choose as a midlife crisis decision. Knowing that whichever path is chosen will be the one he or she must remain on once again can depict the age of the speaker, since a younger person may believe they can just go back and choose again.
Frost’s usage of imagery within his poems also plays a beautiful role within the themes of the poems.
Within “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening”, the narrator illustrates the surroundings with such clarity; the reader could almost feel like he was standing in the woods with the speaker. The narrator expresses the solitude of the woods by commenting “To stop without a farmhouse near” (6). They illustrate for the reader that they are between the woods which are “lovely, dark and deep” (13) and a lake that has frozen over with the arrival of winter. The only sounds the narrator hears, other than the shaking of their horses harness bells, are the wind and snow falling. This strengthens the poems tone of isolation within the surroundings, as well as the narrator. Similarly, Frost’s “The Road Not Taken” is set within the woods. The speaker begins by telling the audience so by recounting of the roads in “a yellow wood” (1). The setting is placed in fall as they are walking through the woods, allowing the reader to imagine the yellowing leaves of the trees falling, giving the surroundings a true autumn feel. The narrator continues with their description of the paths yet to be chosen from. The first is less defined within the poem but they describe it as fairly unused as they look as far down the road until it bends out of sight. The second road is explained as grassy and less traveled as well, but both have been untarnished since the mornings leaves have
fallen.
Within both poems, the narrators have come to a stop.
One has stopped to enjoy the scenery, and the other to make a decision. In “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening”, the narrator comes to a stop to take in and enjoy the snow. He finds the serenity within the isolation of the woods and the only light being the falling snow. Though the speaker thinks the horse may find this stop unusual because there are no houses in sight, he or she takes in their surroundings of the woods, frozen lake, and the only noises to be heard other than the restless shake of harness bells are from the wind and falling show. The narrator seems reluctant to continue on their journey with night falling and miles ahead to travel, but conveys of promises that they must keep. Likewise within “The Road Not Taken”, the speaker comes to a stop, but in this poem it is to make a choice. To choose one of the paths before them, that will inevitably shape the rest of their life. They weigh out both roads and recount their surroundings and the beauty of both trails, but ultimately will look back on their choice with a “what if” outlook. The speaker’s life was considerably changed by the decision made and they will always look back to wonder how their lives could have been different if the other path was
chosen.
Robert Frost’s “The Road Not Taken” and “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening” provide readers with comparable glimpses of life from different narrator viewpoints. Both encompass the beauty of nature and afford the audience a glimpse inside the vision of Frost’s work, while still allowing the focus to be on the narrator and the story they have to tell. While the narrator in “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening” is more based on a reflection of life and the choices made, Frost captures the essence of a life well lived and the importance to stop and reflect on the positive within life. Equally, in “The Road Not Taken” the narrator has come to a crossroads within their life and must make a choice on how to proceed, taking time to observe the autumn surroundings and the beauty that comes with it. Frost has helped shape how poetry is interpreted and visualized for the world, and these two poems have brought his works to life with their imagery and openness to interpretation.