Analyzing Stopping by the Woods Essay

Submitted By eockerlund
Words: 580
Pages: 3
Open Document
Eric
Lit. Matters
Poetry Essay
10/17/13

Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening

The poem I chose to write about is Robert Frost’s “stopping by woods on a snowy evening”. I chose this particular piece of his work because I enjoy Frost’s dark and mysterious side. This piece of work displays the dark mysterious side of Frost that I am referring to. After first reading this poem in high school, my impression was that the piece was a little strange and creepy. However after our class had discussed and critically analyzed the poem, we uncovered a lot more than what meets the eye. The piece is very simple on the surface; just simply someone stopping and looking into the woods along their travels. As you reread the poem, Frost’s dark side starts to show itself. The speaker gazes into the deep dark woods and as he contemplates fulfilling his temptation to go into the woods. This is where interpretations of the poem vary from reader to reader. When I studied this piece in high school, our class concluded that this portion of the poem was the speaker considering giving up his life to the woods. When he says, “the woods are lovely and deep, but I have promises to keep, and miles to go before I sleep, and miles to go before I sleep.” I believe that the speaker is tempted to just give up on life but then realizes that he has promises and responsibilities, so therefore, he decides not to enter the cold, dark, deep woods. The way Frost describes the woods makes me lean more towards the interpretation that the speaker is considering suicide but holds back because he describes the woods as cold, deep, and dark. All of these adjectives describe death, hence why I believe that the woods are a metaphor for death. On the other hand, the poem can also be interpreted in a much less extreme manor. An example of another interpretation of the poem is the interpretation our class had of the poem, which was that the speaker is on a long journey, and he is desperately tired and just simply wants to sleep when he sees the calm and inviting woods. This interpretation of the piece is not as strong as
Show More

Related Documents: Analyzing Stopping by the Woods Essay

Epic Hero Cycle

What comes to mind when thinking of heroes? Capes? Onesies? When analyzing heroes in literature, common themes are present in all heroes. Those common themes are bravery and courage. When looking at epic heroes in literature, the themes present are that of a hero, but with additional themes such as the hero being affected throughout the story by great events, or the hero being admired for their achievements. An epic hero also will usually follow most of the stages of the epic hero cycle. An example…

Words 1298 - Pages 6

Interpreting Social and Cultural Behavior Essay

battle of keeping the wood stove full to the brim while constantly increasing the thermostat for the oil furnace. I now cannot seem to enjoy the heat the same anymore, and this is because I experienced the hot temperatures of a Bikram yoga studio. Maybe it was the uncomfortable looking poses, the drill-sergeant like instructors or the fact that I had no idea what I was doing. As the sweat began to accumulate on my face in the 39 degrees Celsius studio, I found myself analyzing each individual’s yoga…

Words 1793 - Pages 8

Fortis Inc Essay

biologically rich land and many animals inhabiting the area. As a result, stopping to build the Chalillo dam is the best option to avoid the effect on wildlife. By choosing this alternative, Fortis will reduce the amount of negativity that many ENGOs and other organizations are currently showing them. They could retain their good reputation if they decide to not build the Chalillo dam. On the contrary, there are some disadvantages for stopping the project. First, Belize will not solve…

Words 3537 - Pages 15

Essay on Science: Blood and Trace Evidence

other diseases which have took over the immune system. Platelets, along with other proteins, form blood clots. When blood is exposed to air, platelets become sticky and for internal and external “scabs” to catch the blood cells and plasma, upon stopping bleeding. Human blood is grouped into four types: A, B, AB ,and O. Each letter refers to a kind of antigen on the surface of the red blood cells. Each blood type is also grouped by Rhesus Factor (Rh Factor). Blood is either Rh positive (Rh +) or…

Words 8264 - Pages 34

Poems: City Planners Essay example

The Poems analysed are: The City Planners, Margaret Atwood and The Planners, Boey Kim Cheng. These are taken from the IGCSE Cambridge Poetry Anthology, but may be interesting for unseen poetry too. Question Set How do these poets use language and structure to get across their theme? I wrote this in about half an hour. Both poems are very similar, and have the same topic - City Planning - as shown in their titles. Structurally, they are different though, and the tone differs in places. I've…

Words 15315 - Pages 62

Strategic Marketing And Planning

concepts and theories of SMP we learnt throughout the semester so far, we chose “GEO Television Network”. This report had been a rewarding and informative experience for all of us. We tried to cover all the aspects which needed to be considered while analyzing “GEO TV” as a Market Oriented Organization. Your support and corporation had been very fundamental and useful in preparing this report. In case of any doubt, please feel free to contact us. Sincerely, Basit Jawed 15066 Contents Executive…

Words 3402 - Pages 14

Essay On Recidivism

UNICEF Toolkit on Diversion and Alternatives to Detention 2009 Compilation of evidence in relation to recidivism1 Important note: The selection of studies included here is by no means comprehensive. This document merely aims to give a brief overview of the types of evidence available in relation to recidivism. It should be noted that the majority of studies included here are from North America, Australia, New Zealand and Europe (Netherlands and UK), with a few from Thailand, Hong Kong, Singapore…

Words 8788 - Pages 36

Essay on preschool

California Preschool Learning Foundations Volume 2 CALIFORNIA DEPAR TMENT OF EDUCATION • SACRAMENTO, 2010 California Preschool Learning Foundations Volume 2 Visual and Performing Arts Physical Development Health Publishing Information The California Preschool Learning Foundations (Volume 2) was developed by the Child Development Division, California Department of Education. This publication was edited by Faye Ong, working in cooperation with Laura Bridges and Desiree…

Words 46134 - Pages 185

Gp Essay Mainpoints

GP NOTES 2010 (ESSAY) Content Page 1. Media a. New vs. Traditional b. New: narcissistic? c. Government Censorship d. Profit-driven Media e. Advertising f. Private life of public figures g. Celebrity as a role model h. Blame media for our problems i. Power + Responsibility of Media j. Media ethics k. New Media and Democracy 2. Science/Tech a. Science and Ethics b. Government and scientist role in science c. Rely too much on technology? d. Nuclear technology…

Words 24667 - Pages 99