Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening

Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening In his poem "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening," Robert Frost uses deceptively simple language to communicate his ideas. There is only one three-syllable word in the entire poem -- "promises." The rest of the poem is made up of one- or two-syllable words that are easily understood by virtually everyone. The sound of the poem, when read aloud, almost sounds like normal speech, although he has carefully chosen the words to fit a simple rhythm, four iambic pairs to a line.

The poem is almost a conversation between Frost and his horse, whom he personifies, attributing human feelings to the animal. Mostly, however, Frost talks to himself. The poem's title, "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening," suggests several things. We immediately know the setting, but we also have both the woods and the time of day -- evening -- suggesting darkness. Since he is just stopping, this suggests that he is looking, considering, but not necessarily going in.

Throughout the poem we see images of coldness, darkness, and a suggestion that what Frost is really looking at is the prospect of death -- not necessarily suicide, but his own mortality. The first line says, "Whose woods these are I think I know." If he is considering his own mortality, he may be making a reference to God.

He goes on, "His house is in the village though; He will not see me stopping here To watch his woods fill up with snow." This suggests a theological view that God does not concern himself with the everyday actions of men, including that he does not cause people's death, as all men must die. So, God does not watch these woods intently, although those contemplating their own mortality will look with great interest.

The woods filling up with snow may be an image of the days, months and years going by, every day bringing Frost to his inevitable death. Then he writes, "My little horse must think it queer To stop without a farmhouse near " -- but of course his pony is not aware that both he and his rider will die someday.

Once again Frost brings in the image of coldness and darkness, as he describes their location as "Between the woods and frozen lake," suggesting that there is no way to avoid our mortality. When he says there is no farmhouse near, this suggests that in this place where he faces his own mortality, there is no human comfort to ease his sadness at the thought of dying. A farmhouse would have not only companionship to chase away any feelings of mortality but warmth, the antithesis of his death imagery.

Having no farmhouse makes the location, and the speaker, more isolated and alone. The lines "He gives his harness bells a shake To ask if there is some mistake," suggesting that Frost actually could choose to ride into the woods and embrace death. However, the horse suggests that the time is not right. The horse realizes that it is not yet time to ride into the woods.

Frost says, "The only other sound's the sweep Of easy wind and downy flake." While this emphasizes his aloneness, it also makes the horse's message to him more audible. The sound of his bells impatiently jingling stand out in contrast to the darkness and cold, which Frost does not make sound unattractive. He seems ambiguous regarding death. His words suggest more curiosity than dread. By the end of the poem, Frost makes a trip into the woods seem inviting.

He says, "The woods are lovely, dark and deep." He does not fear death, and he is curious to see what it is like, but realizes that his life is not yet done. He says first, "But I have promises to keep .. " This line brings him back to reality. While at the moment he is alone, in reality he is part of a community.

He has friends, and loved ones, and obligations, and people who care about others do not just drift off to embrace death because it seems convenient or somewhat intriguing. This has been a moment to contemplate his mortality, to consider whether it is really an awful thing or not, but he is content to wait, and to find out what death is like when it is truly time for.