In the poem "Desert Places" the speaker is a man who is traveling through the countryside on a beautiful winter evening. He is completely surrounded with feelings of loneliness. The speaker views a snow-covered field as a deserted place. "A blanker whiteness of benighted snow/ With no expression, nothing to express" (Line 11-12). Whiteness and blankness are two key ideas in this poem. The white symbolizes open and empty spaces. The snow is a white blanket that covers up everything living. The blankness symbolizes the emptiness that the speaker feels. To him there is nothing else around except for the unfeeling snow and his lonely thoughts.
In the poem "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening" it shows us that irrationality has its place. "My little horse must think it queer/ To stop without a farmhouse near" (line 5-6). On the darkest night of the year, according to society, shelter is first priority. Some of the key phrases that contribute to the speaker's dilemma are "woods are lovely" and "promises to keep" because they outline the conflict. The imagery shows how beautiful the forest is, making his decision more difficult. The repetition of his journey shows that it is important he be practical. Overall, the speaker must submit to what is acceptable: civilization.
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