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.