Stopping By Woods On A Snowy Evening :: essays research papers

The circumstances surrounding the composition of Robert Frosts poem "Stopping by woodwind instrument on a Snowy Evening" explain his social function of "The phantasmest evening of the year" (L.8) which is closely re youngd it to the greater theme of persistence in the face of hardship.Frost wrote this poem, in November(Frost Chronology) 1923 on the same late night he undone his declare New Hampshire (Jackson sec. 1). Being "a little excited from getting over-tired"(qtd. in Jackson sec. 3), he distinct to venture out into the wilderness, probably to calm down. Frost hitched his horse to a sleigh and left on his journey to eventually find the "Woods" in this poem. Being in an "autointoxicated"(qtd. in Jackson sec. 3) state, Frost was influence by the scene of the woods beside the frozen lake. He eventually stone-broke out of his trance, possibly with the aid of his horse, by beliefs of prior commitments. The former statement is shown in the text by "He gives his harness bells a call down To ask if there is some mistake"(L.L. 9-10) and the latter by " exactly I have promises to keep And miles to go before I pile"(L.L. 13-14). According to Frost, upon his return home, "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening" "was written in a few legal proceeding without any strain"(qtd. in Jackson sec. 1). Therefore, Frost wrote this poem nigh himself and his journey.Literally, "The darkest evening of the year"(L.8), refers to the winter equinox on December 21st. But, if thought of symbolically, this line could be the culmination of surd work, by the author, to finish his book New Hampshire. Furthermore the equinox aspect of "The darkest evening of the year"(L.13) symbolizes the transition, from the composing of a new book to its realization. Therefore, the meaning "The darkest evening of the year"(L.8) is doubled even if the poem was not written in December 21st.In and of itself, the poem is an extended metaphor for perseverance. The reader only realizes this after having finished reading the poem because the information about the narrators prior commitments and fatigue is provided at the end. In retrospect, the first stanza can be analyzed as the narrators difficult journey. The middle and last parts of the text, like the woods, can be seen as the temptation, as is evident in the lines "The woods are lovely dark and deep"(L. 13). But the narrator overcomes his temptation shown by "But I have promises to keep, And miles to go before I sleep"(L.