Robert Frost Terrifying Paper

Chuck Harlan

Mr. McElveen

English II

30 January 2012

Is He Terrifying?

            Some people due to the gloomy elements of his poetry have called Robert Frost “terrifying”. Some might say that he is an outstanding poet because of his terrifying words but based on Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening people may conclude that Robert Frost is indeed not a terrifying poet.

            This is more of the type of a depressing poem than more of the terrifying poem. There are many elements of it being depressing. The first stanza for example, “… To watch his woods fill up with snow.” Snow could be symbolic for death because whenever snow comes everything dies. So when Frost says that his woods are filling up with snow this could be symbolic because a forest is usually full of animal and plant life but when it fills up with snow everything either dies or sleeps. So the narrator is saying that his life is filling with death.

            The second stanza is also similar to the first. “My little horse must think it queer To stop without a farmhouse near Between the woods and frozen lake The darkest evening of the year.” This also has elements of symbolism in it. When is says darkest evening of the year this could be referencing the darkest evening of the year not because of the amount of light, but more in the sense of amount of death and sorrow. The frozen lake also symbolizes death. Everything freezing over shows that some animal’s source of water or life is gone and will not be back for a long time. The narrator is obviously in a secluded area, which could reveal that maybe he is the one preparing for death.

            The third stanza reveals more about the current situation. “He gives his harness bells a shake To ask if there is some mistake. The only other sound’s the sweep Of easy wind and downy flake. When it states that the horse is uneasy it could be showing the uneasiness of the entire situation. The horse could be aware of the fact that his master is contemplating suicide. Later in the stanza it says Of easy wind and downy flake. It is showing that is starting to snow again or that death is about to occur again. This is a stronger indication that the narrator is going to commit suicide. Then is says the only other sound is a sweep which could show his loneliness and one of the reasons he is trying to kill himself.

            The fourth and final stanza is a more jubilant stanza. “The woods are lovely, dark and deep. But I have promises to keep, And miles to go before I sleep, And miles to go before I sleep.” He is saying that yes the woods are lovely place to take my life because they are dark and deep and no one will find him but he has other things to do before he dies.

            Stopping By Woods on a Snowing Evening is a sad and depressing poem. In no way is terrifying unless people are terrified of people contemplating suicide. Whoever said that Robert Frost was a terrifying poet must have misspoken on the fact that he is a depressing poet and not a terrifying poet.
           

            

Weekly Post 3

Saturday there was a indoor track meet. It was my first indoor meet ever and I was a little anxious to get it started. I ran the 800. It was not fun at all. Not the track meet part so much but  more of the running part. I didn't run my best race and I was little disappointed naturally. So after I ran the 800 I was supposed to be done for the day. I was planning on staying a little longer to support my team but not run anymore. When I went back to our team area to get a drink I saw Ben Murrey there. He told me,

"Chuck someone did not show up to day so you are going to have to run more!"

At first I thought that he was kidding but he was not. It was a very sad feeling because I really did not want to run anymore because I was coughing and in result of my frequent coughing I sounded like a heavy smoker. So I had to stay until the very end because naturally the race I would have to run in would be the last one of a very long day. Around 6:30 I heard,

"C'mon guys, It is time to warm up."

That is when it hit me that I would have to be running in about 45 minutes. So we went to warm up and ran our race. Our team didn't do to bad in the relay. Our splits were decent and our coach was pleased. So I guess it was a eventful weekend.

Weekly Post 2

In English class while Mr. McElveen was discussing what we were going to be doing that day in class Grayson and James Davis were talking. I did not hear what they were saying but this is my educated guess for what they were saying. \

"Gee James, Why is Chuck such a good student?", said Grayson.

"I am not sure Grayson, but I would agree!", said James.

Mr. McElveen even said that I coud do this blog on what they were saying. So this is what I think they were saying. Believe it or not. Most like they did say this. Most people do. I will be walking around and I will hear

"Why are you so smart?"

"I don't know, I was blessed.", I respond.

Chuck Harlan should be under the definition of genius in the dictionary. It is just a fact. I am a genius and you just have to deal with it.

Weekly Post 1

Today I was a track practice. It was a cold day and a little rainy. There was a slight overcast and we were trying to hurry up our workout.

"Hurry up!", Coach Dupe shouted.

We were running 400's as fast as we could so that the downpour would not fall on us. 2 down 6 to go I would think to my self as we would run. I think other people were probably thinking something along the lines of oh my goodness why am I doing this sport. I agree with them. I often think that to myself. Sweat was pouring down my face and I looked like I had just jumped in a swimming pool. Then it started to rain. It felt like snow then it did rain. The temperature already being cold is probably what caused it to feel like that.

"Everyone!" "Cut your workout short and finish up this last one until it stops raining!", said the coaches.

I finished my 7 400 and hurried under the walkway. The rain sounded like beans hittig the top of the roof. I usually sleep good when it is raining. I like rain, . . . well most rain. The only rain I do not like rain when it is cold rain. Or acid rain for that matter. Anything that falls down on me and burns my skin is probably not a good thing or something I would like.

That night I rained hard and usually when it rains hard I sleep very good. But not that night. That night was an all night marathon of Drugs Inc. That is a good show. The things I learn in that shows are unbelivable. Did you know that people can get high off of animal sediatives.

My mom always says, "Why do you watch that?" "Are you trying to learn what you can take?"

"No!", I reply quickly.

So instead of getting the vital hours of sleep I need I instead watched multiple episodes of Drugs Inc. until I fell asleep around 1 a.m.

So that was my week. It consisted of Drugs Inc., track, rain, and that was about it.

Mr. Floods Essay

     What character represents some characteristics of Tilburytown? The character is Eben Flood. He is the perfect person to compare to from what the poem states.
     Eben Flood is obviously drinking to numb his pain and waiting for death to come. "It stood, as the uncertain lives of men Assuredly did not, he paced away, And with his hand extended paused again." (Robinson 30-33) In this quote there is a good example of how Mr. Flood is talking to himself. When is states that he extends his hand and paused shows that he is alone. This line is supposed to make its readers think the first time that he is with someone even though it may seem. That represents the loneliness that he feels in his life. Loneliness is one the major characteristics in being a member of Tilbury town.
     Another major characteristic of Tilburytown is waiting for death to come and embracing it. "Well, Mr. Flood, we have not met like this In a long time; and many a change had come To both of us, I fear, since last it was.." The time in Mr. Flood's life is coming towards the end and he is having one last drink for some memories. That is why when he is talking to himself; he is stating that he has never had to drink on these types of occasions. This is probably going to be one of his last drinks he has before his dies or something happens where he metaphorically dies.
    Mr. Flood is a perfect person to be a citizen of Tilsbury town. He is depressed, lonely, and awaiting death. There are numerous accounts of him being lonely and depressed.

Stanza

Yet sadly he did not make it for he was dying
   He had gotten very sick
He told everyone that he was alright but was lying
   He left everything he owned to his son Nick

Wordly Wise.

1. Acrimony- The announcers acrimony reporting about Jordan Jefferson can still be seen on sports center.
2. Affinity- My father and I developed a affinity for LSU football.
3. Ambivalent- During the National Championship Les Miles was ambivalent whether to put in Lee or Jefferson.
4. Cessation- There was a cessation of cheering whenever Trent Richardson scored a touchdown.
5. Emaciated- I look emaciated compared to the people on LSU's football team.
6. Enclave- Indian reservations are an enclave or Indian people in the U.S.
7. Engender- The honey badger engenders turnovers in a game.
8. Exacerbate- LSU losing to Nick Saban exacerbated the rivalry between LSU and Nick.
9. Illicit- It is illicit to smoke weed.
10. Indigenous- Crawfish are indigenous to the Louisiana area.
11. Inexorable- Teachers are inexorable when students are attempting to get to lunch early.
12. Infatuated-  Some people are infatuated with Jersey Shore. Some people do not understand.
13. Insatiable- LSU Tigers are insatiable when it comes to football.
14. Poignant- The blind side was a poignant film.
15. Proselytize- Missionaries attempt to proselytize other people when they go on mission trips.

Is Mr. Flood an Alcoholic or not?

This I think seems easy at first but once you really get to thinking, it is actually a fairly challenging question. First off I do not believe that Mr. Flood is an alcoholic. Just because you get drunk does not mean that you are not an alcoholic. Plenty of people get drunk a couple of times in their life but do not have addiction issues with alcohol. The definition of an alcoholic is "an addiction to the consumption of alcoholic liquor or the mental illness and compulsive behavior resulting from alcohol dependency." You have no form of background on wether Mr. Flood has a problem with alcohol so that is why I would say that he for a fact is an alcoholic. There is not one bit of indisputable evidence.

Another thing that I noticed after rereading the poem is that it never does state whether Mr. Flood is actually consuming alcohol. He could be drunk on his own sorrow which would fit the criteria for Modernism. If he was sad he could be talking to himself about his problems and hardships. Now it is a strong possibility that he is under the influence of alcohol but I am just trying the think deep here. Maybe this is one of those iceberg references where you only read 1/3 of the story but in the words there is another 2/3 of a story to be told.

I think that I have come up with enough information to be able to say without a doubt that Mr. Flood is not an alcoholic. So I guess that is it.

January 3 2012

Today was my first day of school in the 2012 new year. I hate to say it but it wasn't that great. I have been going to bed whenever I choose to and getting up late. Last night I stayed up till about 11:30. Not because I wanted to but because I couldn't go to sleep. It was horrible. I knew that if I didn't go to bed early that I would be very tired throughout the day tomorrow but my body just wouldn't let me. I tried turning off the T.V. but that didn't help. I turned off the fan in my room and closed my eyes but I just wasn't tired. So of course I just sat there the whole night watching sports center and the fiesta bowl. Well . . . now that I think about it maybe that is why I was having such a hard time going to bed last night. The Fiesta bowl was such a close game that I knew that if I fell asleep that I would surely miss something. So that wasn't such a good idea because Stanfords kicker chocked and missed the field goal to win the game. So. . ..  I was peeved.

All of that put a damper on my day at school. I got up and it took everything I had to get out of bed and get ready for school. My eyes were super heavy and it was freezing. I got to school and sat in the locker hall attempting to get some sleep in before school and the hoards of people arrived. That failed due to the fact that most people get to school fairly early. Then I had my first class. Intro to Bible. I have nothing against Father Howe but his voice is just so calming and it puts me to sleep. That is why I was dozing off in his class. I know. . . great way to start off the day.Then I had Latin. I talked most of that class so it was much easier to stay awake than in Intro to Bible. Then my third class was English. We discussed the pro's and con's of the past semester and went over some things that the class wished to be changed in the upcoming semester. It was successful for the most part. I didn't fall asleep because that would have been a very stupid mistake. We got some good ideas out and I think that this last semester should be fun. Then study hall with coach coco. Nothing interesting that class, it is just study hall. After that I had Algebra II. We went over some old material to get our brains back on the right track and finish up this last part of the chapter. It wasn't bad as the day went on with my want to sleep. Lunch really did the trick with helping me stay awake. FYI the chicken fettichini is very good. So to you people out there who say that it is bad, you must be crazy. Then to finish off the day I had chemistry. We got our exams back and I made an 86! I was super excited! Now that we had gotten our exams back and gone over them we still had some time to take some notes and get some learning in. I didn't really mind it unlike some other people because Chemistry is one of my favorite subjects. After that I got in the car and went home. Ate a snack and this is where I am now. This has been my January 3 2012 so far.