Q: In some poems what is described is given a meaning beyond the immediately obvious. Explore any one of the poems where this feature is most memorable.
"Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening" by Robert Frost is a contemporary piece dealing with the typical human desire for escape. Whether this desire is manifested in avoidance of work, school or simply a relief from the mundane repetitiveness of everyday life this want is present in all humans. Throughout this poem Frost depicts and suggests that the "woods" are his means of escape from the "village", from society, and Frost conveys this by his respectful and almost wondrous diction when describing and referring to, the forest and the nature surrounding it. This poem also clearly portrays the attraction of nature to man; for man nature symbolises escape and embodies mysterious and "dark" and "deep" secrets that have attracted man for centuries.
Robert Frost, American poet
English: Handwritten version of 'Happiness makes u...
English: The stone covering Robert Frost's family ...Through his regret to return to the village Frost also conveys the temptation of man to leave responsibility and society and to instead stay with the calm serenity of nature, however, at the conclusion of this poem Frost shows how "promises" and duty eventually turn most men back to their responsibilities.
In the first stanza of the poem Frost introduces his situation, showing himself to be in the "woods." In this stanza Frost often mentions an unknown character, a character whose identity is kept a mystery by Frost's reference to him as "he." Although the identity of this character and his relationship with Frost is unknown it can be assumed that the unknown character is Frost's master, suggested by the Frost's comment that "he will not see me stopping here to watch his woods." This statement clearly suggests that the unknown character has ownership of the woods. Although...