Robert Frost Essays (1753 words) - Robert Frost, Henry David Thoreau

Robert Frost Robert Frost is one of the few twentieth century poets to receive critical acclaim and popular acceptance (Magill 728). His simplistic style appeals to the novice and expert poetry reader alike. Robert Frosts understated emotional appeal attracts readers of all literary levels. Frost develops subtly stated emotions and a clever use of imagery in his poetry. Influences on his poetry include his family, work, and other life experiences (Oxford 267). Frost also works to develop iambic pentameter using simple language, in an attempt to effectively portray the New England lifestyle (Magill 723). Frost successfully blends classic poetry and a modern simplicity to create a new generation of poetry lovers. Frosts poetry is greatly influenced by his life experiences. To understand his poetry, it seems necessary to understand the man himself. Ironically enough, the famed New England poet is born on the West Coast and named for a Confederate general. Robert Lee Frost is born on March 26, 1874 in San Francisco. He is the first child of Isabelle and William Prescott Frost Jr. (Oxford 267). His father dies when he is eleven, prompting him to move to Lawrence, MA to live with his grandparents. Although he seems bright, young Frost dislikes academics and drops out of school in each of his first three years (Poirier). Frost eventually graduates second in his high school class and attends, and later teaches at prestigious colleges and universities, such as Dartmouth and Harvard (Oxford 269). However, unwilling to commit his life solely to academic pursuits, Frost seeks a simpler lifestyle, working at such jobs as bobbin boy at a mill, making shoes, editing, teaching, and farming (Oxford 267). Th is craftsmanship affects his writing. Frost seeks to put complex meaning into each of his poems, while each verse remains as simple and honest as an axe or hoe. Frost uses this simple writing style throughout his poetic career. Frost combines this unadorned style with an ability to blend common language with artistic expressions. Frost first learns the beauty of the straightforward, manner of speech from the rural people of New England: On his New Hampshire farm he discovered this in the character of a man with whom he used to drive along the country roads, (Braithewaite). His first books, A Boys Will and North of Boston, which reflect this discovery are published in 1914 and gain him instant status as a unique and talented poet (Braithewaite). Frost wrote these books after he had moved to England in 1912 to pursue a full time writing career and upon his return to America in 1915. He is pleasantly surprised to find his poetry gaining popularity among poetry readers. Many critics also delight in this promising young poet. Poetic scholars marvel at his exceptional ability to learn from the best English and American poets, while at the same time retaining his own identity (Braithewaite). Robert Frost studies poetry for years, practicing and refining his own style. He assumes the qualities of each poet that he enjoys most, and fuses them with his own (Braithewaite). For example, much of Frosts poetry is written in iambic pentameter. He attempts to listen to New Englanders naturally iambic rhythm and adopt it into his poetry (Magill 726). By using iambic pentameter, Frost shows that ordinary people can talk and argue within a medium that William Shakespeare and John Milton in the 16th and 17th Centuries had reserved for aristocrats and angels (Thompson 142). Such authors and poets as Shelley, Wordsworth, and Emerson also influence Frost (Blaithewaite). However, by far the most influential writer on Frosts is another famous New England naturalist, Hen ry David Thoreau (Denouden). Many critics have discussed the connection between Frost and Thoreau. Frost read Thoreaus Walden several times during the course of his life. The subject matter that each writer addresses often concerns Mother Nature. It cannot be denied that Frost and Thoreau are great admirers of Nature (Denouden). Each writer uses nature as a prevalent subject in his or her works. Frost and Thoreau share great optimism for nature in their writing, yet they are also aware of the complexity nature brings upon them. Frost and Thoreau both partake in nature in their lives and writings, and their works are filled