Assignment
Name : Nishtha Makwana
Submitted to the Department of English, MKBU.
Roll No. 15
Paper : The American Literature
Topic : Symbolism in Frost' poems
Words
Abstract
Generally people consider literature as a medium of entanglement and passing the time. Because many times we find it meaningless. But when we start reading deeply then we come to know about the deeper meaning of between the lines. Sometimes the things which are not spoken but those things are in the center of literary text. We live in the world of democracy, where one is free to speak and raise his or her voice, but is it so? If we see in politics then the use of symbolism is the best way to protest and resist.
Robert Frost is a poet who used very simple language, but behind his simplicity there is deep meaning. With the help of symbolism he has said universal things. Sometimes we find it funny but we have to read deeply and we have to read symbolism then we can reach to the conclusion or the central Ideas of the poem. This assignment is examining the use of symbols in selected poems by Robert Frost.
Research Questions
This assignment will follow these questions
How does Robert Frost use symbolism in his poems ?
What is the deeper meaning of those symbols?
What is the importance of symbols and why is this necessary?
Introduction
We can find symbolism everywhere, especially in literature. And in literature specifically in poems. Use of Symbolism makes poems and language more beautiful.
'Symbolism is the language of the Mysteries. By symbols men have ever sought to communicate to each other those thoughts which transcend the limitations of language.'
Manly Hall
One thing about symbolism is quite beautiful because everyone finds different meanings from the given symbols and that are also connected with poems. To read symbols is not an easy task, one has to think deeply.
About the poet
Cleanth Brooks says
“Frost’s best poetry exhibits the structure of symbolist poetry. Much more clearly than does of many a modern poet”.
Robert Frost was an American poet. He is also known as a nature poet. He has used realistic pictures of rural life in his poems. He is also known for the use of simple language in his poems. His best known poems are..
-The Road Not Taken
-Stopping by Woods on snowy evening
-Mending Wall
-Nothing gold can stay
-Fire and Ice
As we mentioned he was an American poet, but his initial works were published first in England and then published in America. Now let's see what symbolism is.
What is symbolism?
Symbolism is the use of symbols to represent something. It is significant when we want to say something through some symbols. It gives a different meaning but it is significant and more deep. Symbolism is a figure of speech which a poet uses when he wants to create some kind of certain mood. Let's see some examples..
Symbols of Colors
Black - Symbol of death, darkness, hopelessness
White - Hope, Brightness, peace
Red - Danger, Love
These are some examples of symbolism. We are here considering Robert Frost's selected poems..
Fire and Ice
Stopping by woods on snowy evening
Mending Wall
Here is how Robert Frost has made use of symbols and why the use of symbolism is important.
Symbolism in Fire And Ice
The title itself is symbolic. If we want to read and understand this poem then first we should interpret these symbols.
Fire : Fire is a symbol of Warmth, Emotions, Desire, pain and death. In Christianity fire symbolizes religious zeal and Martyrdom. In Egypt it is a sense of superiority and control.
Ice : Ice is a symbol of coldness, dryness, Hatred, Rigidity, absence of love, in winter the season of death.
Both are extreme in our life. Here is the poem where we can find these symbols.
Fire and Ice
BY ROBERT FROST
Some say the world will end in fire,
Some say in ice.
From what I’ve tasted of desire
I hold with those who favor fire.
But if it had to perish twice,
I think I know enough of hate
To say that for destruction ice
Is also great
And would suffice.
In this poem fire symbolizes desire and Ice symbolizes hatred. "Fire and Ice" is a poem of only nine lines. Through this short poem Frost conveys his thoughts and for our deep meaning he has succeeded in opening our eyes. Desire as a Fire and hatredness as an Ice are human emotions, transformed into moral forces. The poem is a song, which also expresses the poet’s terrifying acknowledgment of his most destructive zeal for both love and hate.
Symbolism in Stopping by woods on snowy evening
The most notable symbol of the poem "Stopping by the woods on a snowy evening" would be the woods. Through the adjectives used by the speaker in the poem, the reader should recognize the tone and mood of mystery and fear. This becomes clear when he says..
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.
Symbols:
Woods: Here woods are symbolized as a contrast to civilization.
Through this poem woods can be categorized as a symbol of death.
Nature: In this poem, nature is the symbol and the snow is a symbol of coolness, while frozen lake is a symbol of the death and chillness of life.
Horse: In this poem Robert Frost takes Horse as a symbol, which symbolizes as a soul of the poet.
Sleep: Robert Frost conveys his ideas by the word ‘sleep;. So, this word symbolizes Death and tells that before death an individual has to complete and fulfill promises.
Village: Village is symbolized here as society and civilization.
So, here Frost expresses his feelings through various symbols.
Symbolism in Mending Wall
"Mending Wall" is a poem by Robert Frost, which has many symbols so the poet presents his idea here through these various symbols as this poem has literal and hidden meaning, symbolizing religious, political and economic conflict, national, religious. , Races and prejudices that divide man from man and come in the form of mutual understanding and harmonious relationships.
Here is the line symbol
"Good fences make good neighbors"
So this line symbolizes the old man with his young neighbor, both neighbors representing the problem between traditional and modernity.
Traditional
Here the young man wants to move away from his tradition and will rebuild his society on the other hand by keeping the value of tradition and spirituality on the old side.
Young: Modernity
Poetry seems simple in that the richness of its composition is manifested only in a symbolic interpretation, something in "nature" is the opposite of all fences and walls.
Conclusion
Thus, we can say Robert Frost used so many symbols in his poems. A few more words, one can say that through various symbols and symbolic concepts, Robert Frost has presented his thoughts and feelings here through these symbols, which are very difficult to understand, the meaning can be understood even after many readings of these poems.
Work cited.
"Fire and Ice by Robert Frost." Poetry.net, www.poetry.net/poem/30851.
Blog
Frost, Robert. "Mending Wall." Gleeditions, 17 Apr.
Frost, Robert. “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening.” The Poetry of Robert Frost. New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston Inc., 1969. 224-225.
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