Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening

Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening Robert Frost is considered to be one of the greatest American poets. Perhaps the reason for his widespread appeal is that his poems have a simplistic and easy-going facade. However, upon deeper exploration, Frost's work is revealed as having multiple layers of meaning. "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening" paints a calm, serene picture that may seem extremely simple and straightforward at first glance.

"Stopping by Woods' provides a doorway into an understanding of the poet's great popularity with 'ordinary' readers." (Kilcup) However, there is a sort of hidden meaning in this poem that is infused with intense emotion. The imagery of the setting and symbolism of the poem are two of Frost's literary techniques used in this poem to give it deeper meaning regarding life and society. Frost presents a dark and mysterious setting for this poem.

A dark, cold, snowy night in the middle of nowhere seems like it might be the setting for a tale of horror. However, Frost's language clearly shows the reader that this is a romantic setting, something serene to be enjoyed. The truth is that in this poem, the setting represents both of these things. "The woods are lovely, dark and deep." (Frost) This description of the woods is perhaps an allusion to the Dark Forest which appears throughout mythology, literature, and folklore, a place of both adventure and unspeakable danger.

Yet Frost describes these woods as lovely, as if the dark lure of this place is appealing. There is clear distinction made between the owner of the woods, who resides in the village, and the narrator who is actually experiencing them. The woods are set without a farmhouse anywhere nearby, in a very secluded place. In this poem, perhaps, the woods represent adventure and dreams, while the village represents mundane conformity to society.

The woods cannot be owned by a man in the city; they belong only to the wind and the snow which is found there. The intent of the narrator of this poem when he travels to and pauses at these woods on his horse is also highly symbolic. At first glance, it may appear that this is simply a traveler on horseback that has paused to enjoy the sight of the woods.

However, it is clear that this man is actually from the same village as the landowner, for he is familiar with him. So, the narrator has traveled many miles in the middle of the night, in the December snow and wind, almost as if he is fleeing the village like fugitive in the cover of darkness. It may be interpreted that the narrator is in fact fleeing something in the village, though it may well not be the law enforcement.

It has been suggested that the character is actually contemplating suicide, and has traveled to the secluded woods to throw himself into the frozen lake to die in peace. Perhaps the line at the end of the poem about having "miles to go before I sleep" (Frost) refers to his final decision to not actually die. The narrator's desired sleep/death, however, may not be an actual end of life, but rather a new beginning.

In literature and mythology, death is often used to represent a metamorphosis, or the death of one's old way of life. The narrater, then, may be trying to escape from the dull village to.