Early Life and Works
Robert Frost was born in San Francisco, California, on March 26, 1874. As a child, he loved the stories his mother told him and would act them out with his sister. His family moved to Lawrence, Massachusetts, when he was a young boy, and it was here where he grew up with his five siblings.
Frost went to Harvard for one year but dropped out to teach school in Vermont so that he could help support his family. He married Elinor White in 1895. In 1912, he published his first book of poems and won a Pulitzer Prize five years later. In 1914, he published another book of poetry called North of Boston which garnered him more praise and recognition as an accomplished poet.
He was coined as one of the most famous poets of the early 20th century and arguably the most renowned poet from New England, where he lived for most of his life. Although he was born in California and spent his childhood in Massachusetts and New Hampshire, Frost lived most of his adult life in rural Vermont and New Hampshire, writing poetry that often dealt with the harshness of the natural world. Because of this connection to nature, environmental activists such as Rachel Carson and Wendell Berry have used many of his poems as poetic inspiration.
Moreover, he was an American poet who won four Pulitzer Prizes over his lifetime. His most famous poems include “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening” and “The Road Not Taken,” which are still studied by college students today. In fact, he was one of America’s most well-known and beloved poets, as evidenced by the large number of high schools named after him in addition to the countless tributes and memorials erected in his honor.
A feast for lovers of American literature-the work of our greatest poet, redesigned and relaunched for a new generation of readers
Robert Frost’s Writing Style
His Work is Relatable
Robert Frost’s poems are incredibly relatable. He writes about topics such as love, death, and nature. For example, “The Road Not Taken” explores a decision between two paths in life and ends with a warning that there is no right choice because both have pros and cons. In “The Death of the Hired Man,” he discusses how people who work hard to provide for their families often find themselves taken advantage of by those they are closest to. It warns readers not to neglect their loved ones or leave them behind when pursuing a new venture.
Similarly, in “Trees”, Frost writes about looking up into a tall tree and seeing everything from the ground on past leaves and branches into the sky and other trees. The poem illustrates how things aren’t always what they seem from below. He also wonders why we don’t share this connection more often, whether by walking hand-in-hand through an overgrown field or listening more closely to our loved ones when they speak instead of letting time slip away. These lines give readers an idea of what life can be like if we take care of each other without taking anything for granted.
His Work is Easy to Memorize
Schoolchildren often read Frost’s poems, and many claim that his poetry is easy to memorize. However, while it might be true that his poems are more accessible to learn than those of other poets, this has less to do with their content and more to do with the fact that they are short and have relatively straightforward syntax.
In fact, if you look at many famous poets, their poems tend to be much longer and more complicated. Still, there’s no doubt that Frost was an excellent poet who wrote several beautiful pieces.
Universal Themes in His Works
Most of his work display a universal thematic strand. Frost targeted simple language and common life themes to connect his readers with his thoughts and ideas. A person with less understanding of poetic technicalities can easily hit the core idea of his works. His poems are known for their realistic depictions of rural life and New England scenery. In addition, his work often deals with themes such as nature, society, mythology, and religion.
Moreover, his works earned praise and glory due to straightforward language. His language was beautiful and sometimes complex at the same time. He often wrote about nature and life’s struggles in rural New England. Although he has been criticized for writing about nature too much, his poems are still loved.
Suggested Readings
The Runaway by Robert Frost Analysis
Dorothy Parker’s Life and Works
