Data Bases • Custom Term Papers • Free Term Papers • Free Research Papers • Free Essays • Free Book Reports • Plagiarism? Links • Top 100 Term Paper Sites • Top 25 Essay Sites • Top 50 Essay Sites • Search 97,000 Papers @ DirectEssays.com • Search 101,000 Papers @ ExampleEssays.com • Search 90,000 Papers @ MegaEssays.com Free Essays • Term Paper Sites • Chuck III's Free Essays • Free College Essays • TermPaperSites.com • Free Essays • My Term Papers • Essay World • Planet Papers	Search Lots of Essays Back to Subjects - Poetry Robert Frost4 Robert Frost4 Robert Frost was the most popular American poet of the twentieth century. Most Americans recognize his name, the titles of and lines from his best-known poems, and even his face. Given his immense popularity, it is a remarkable testimony to the extent of his achievement that he is also considered to be one of the greatest, if not the very greatest, of modern American poets. “…the life and work of America’s premier poet- the only truly national poet America has yet produced”(Parini23). His influence is still being felt in American life today. His success in America as well as in England has guaranteed the preservation of his legacy for generations to come. “…Frost gradually evolved from poet to cultural icon, becoming a friend of presidents, a sage whose pronouncements attracted world press attention” (Pa23). Robert Frost wrote poetry for all people, which is the main reason for his success still today. He portrays life and death in many of his poems. His views on life and death can be seen in poems such as Acquainted with the Night, The Span of Life, West-Running Brook and Out- Out. Frost explores a different aspect of life and death with his poem, Acquainted With the Night. “Acquainted With the Night belongs with a group of dark poems in a section subtitled Fiat Knox (let there be night), an ironic allusion to Fiat Lux (let there be light), the divine command in Genesis, when God created the heaven and the earth” (Meyers194). This poem is the story of a person who walks at night, silently watching everything happen around them. I seemed confused with the whole concept of walking the night away, until I reread the poem and discovered a possible translation. “ When far away an interrupted cry, Came over houses from another street, but not to call back or say goodbye” (Arp790). This quote gave me the idea that the walker was a ghost journeying the earth trying to rediscover life. The night symbolized death, and the walk was the person’s journey to find their lost life. This poem was somewhat disturbing to me. I thought of a lost soul, thirsting to finish a mission that was not completed in life. Frost depicts death in a frightening manner with the contents of this piece of work. As I researched life and death in his works, I assumed that he was fascinated with it. This belief is reflected in The Span of Life, a two-line poem that contains a whole lot of symbolism. It is the story of a dog that is too old to get up. The narrator is reminiscing of when the dog was a pup. This poem reminded me of an old man looking back on his life, wondering where all the years went. I translated these two short lines into a person’s submission to life and death, accepting the fact that one must die sometime. Similar to The Span of Life, West-Running Brook focuses on the passing of life, and acceptance of death. This poem depicts the building of a bridge across a brook. The bridge is a symbol of marriage, and the flowing brook is passing life. “And it is time, strength, tone, light, life, and love-And even substance lapsing unsubstantial; The universal cataract of death”(Frost3). This poem is a great example of how Frost saw life, as a “running brook”. Another Frost poem that deals with life and death is Out, Out. It is the story of a freak accident that can happen to anyone. “But there is a more stunning example in Frost’s horrific Out-Out, in which a boy losses his hand to a buzz saw and bleeds to death (or has he only lost the will to live, knowing that his usefulness as a farm worker has been all spoiled”(Moore95). The style of the poem itself is very unemotional. It tells the story and ends abruptly. The poem simply gave the message that life goes on. “No more to build on thee, And they since not the ones dead, turned to their affairs” (681). The boy died and life went on as usual. This poem is understandably true. When a person dies, life continues. Frost is relaying this simple message through the story of a boy and a freak accident. With so many gruesome, painful, frightening, and saddening depictions of life and death in society, the poetry of Robert Frost offers a lighter view of the subject. The symbolism he uses to illustrate his messages, offers a sense of peace and acceptance to those who see death as a painful and mysterious journey. Acquainted with the Night, The Span of Life, West-Running Brook and Out- Out are great examples of how Robert Frost saw life and death. Bibliography: · Arp, R. Thomas. Perrine’s Literature, Fort Worth: Harcourt, 1998 · Frost, Robert. Acquainted with the Night. Arp790 · Frost, Robert. Out,Out. Arp681 · Frost, Robert. The Span of Life. Arp766 · Meyers, Jeffrey. Robert Frost, New York: Houghton Mifflin, 1996 · Moore, Richard. The Explicator. “Frost’s Out-Out”. Winter 2000, pg95 · Parini, Jay. Robert Frost: A Life. New York: Fitzhenry & Whiteside, 1998 · West Running Brook. “A Selection of Robert Frost Poems #3”. June 23, 2001 http://www.amhurstcommon.com/walkingtour/frost.htm Word Count: 792
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