Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening is among Robert Frost’s poems that incorporate nature to communicate hidden meaning to the audience. On the surface, the poem captures the narrator mesmerized by unfolding scenes amid a snowy evening in the woods. As the poem progresses, the narrator seems caught in a dilemma. A lot of contemplation happens that invites the audience to share in the persona’s emotional turmoil. Like the woods and the snowy evening describing the title, the speaker establishes a sensory experience for the audience. These, among other features, show that there is more than just the literal meaning of the words used in the poem. An explication of Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening using the themes and stylistic devices will show how the poem’s parts fit together to contribute to its overall meaning.
The poem begins with the narrator taking in the scenes of the woods. In his own words, the speaker appears to have been in such a place before. He says, “Whose woods these are I think I know” (Frost line 1). Nevertheless, a lot of uncertainty dominates the rest of the poem giving in to hidden inclinations that render a diverse meaning from the ordinary words. Most likely, Robert Frost is the speaker in the poem and is on a journey to accomplish something. The poem is set in winter in the woods, beautiful but lonely. As such, the speaker does not intend to stay for so long; “To watch his woods fill up with snow” (Frost line 4). Darkness is also approaching, making the atmosphere tense. Nonetheless, the described setting could be figurative and therefore have a hidden meaning.
As such, the poem presents several themes that explain the hidden meaning. Some of the themes are commitment, optimism, and death. However, most themes can be summarized into one theme as the “journey of life.” The poem creates an illusion of an ideal surrounding in the snowy woods but presents the reader with a conflict of interpretation. At the start, the speaker is alone in the world, feeling some tranquility and isolation only found in nature. Suspense is created as the reader wonders why the speaker has stopped. Throughout the poem, he feels out of place, as is depicted in the line “My little horse must think it queer” (Frost line 5). The little horse might reflect society’s prejudice against the speaker’s current situation. Nevertheless, he remains committed to keeping his promises. Ultimately, the speaker asserts that life must continue despite the surrounding circumstances.
In this regard, the poem utilizes some stylistic devices that capture the readers’ attention, keeping them immersed in the poem from the beginning to the end. The imagery used in the poem is not only vivid but also evocative. The audience cannot miss the sensory language used to describe the speaker’s current position, “between the woods and frozen lake,” and the woods being lovely, dark, and deep (Frost line 7). The repetition of “And miles to go before I sleep” emphasizes the speaker’s resilience in the difficult situation (Frost line 15). Furthermore, the hidden meaning of the poem can be revealed using symbolism. The primary symbol in all the stanzas is the woods. On one hand, the woods represent a difficult time in the speaker’s life which he hopes will not last for long since he has a promise to keep. It is the reason the woods are described as “dark and deep,” but the speaker would not let the woods distract him from his quest. On the other hand, it could signal some liberation from life’s endless demands or society’s constraints. As a result, one can take a break in the woods and enjoy nature’s peace. Therefore, the speaker is torn between his obligation to keep moving and his desire to stay and enjoy the beauty of the woods.
The structure and form also contribute to the delivery of the poem’s message. The poem has four stanzas composed in iambic tetrameter with four stressed syllables. The rhyme scheme in the poem follows the pattern aaba-bbcb-ccdc-dddd. The first, third, and fourth lines rhyme, while the second line rhymes from stanza to stanza throughout the poem. Such a rhyming structure allows for an easy flow that makes the poem more pleasant. The only exception to the dominant pattern is the last stanza, where the final words rhyme. Since it is also the stanza with repetition, the rhyming may have stressed the speaker’s message. Hence, the poem achieves the structure and form that communicates the intended message to the audience.
Overall, Robert Frost’s Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening strongly claims that poems imply more than the straightforward meaning. From the title itself, the poem invites the reader to question the wider context, and thus, the poem cannot be merely interpreted on the surface. Robert Frost tactically infused stylistic devices like symbolism, repetition, and imagery to advance the poem’s meaning. The structure and form of the poem also contribute to the musicality needed to achieve the poem’s intended message. Cumulatively, the poem resonates with Frost’s style of using nature to communicate a subject matter in life.
Work Cited
Frost, Robert. “Stopping by woods on a snowy evening.” Poetry for young people: American poetry. New York: Scholastic (2004).
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