Analysis of the poem: “Stopping by the Woods on a Snowy Evening”

Poetry analysis [By Luann (Suhr) Akaydin]

In the poem “Stopping by the Woods on a Snowy Evening” by Robert Frost the literary devices of auditory imagery, visual imagery, and metaphor are used. The use of these literary devices helps to show the reader that the speaker is realizing that nature is around him and it is speaking to him. Nature is very important to us, although we sometimes do not realize all that is around us. We are blinded and only see what is directly around us. When we see a desk, we don’t think of the tree it was carved from. When we see clothing, we do not think about the animals that it came from. This poem helps us to realize the nature that is around us and remind us of its importance through the use of these three literary devices.

Auditory imagery is used in the poem and it helps to bring your attention to what is around you. There is auditory imagery in line 9 where Frost writes, “gives his harness bells a shake”. This phrase gives you a clue to pay attention to your surroundings. The horse is more closely related to nature than the speaker and so realizes the nature that is around him and doesn’t take it for granted. There is also auditory imagery in lines 11 and 12 where Frost writes, “the sweep of easy wind and downy flake”. These are sounds of nature and they are soft images. The sound of “[sweeping]” is very light and “downy” is also very soft and soothing. The sounds of nature can easily be missed by people who aren’t paying attention and listening for them. The speaker pays attention and hears this sound, as his horse jingling the “harness bells” has awakened him, and he is now hearing things he hadn’t noticed before.

Another literary device the author uses is visual imagery. There is visual imagery in line 13 where Frost writes, “the woods are lovely, dark and deep”. From this line we see the “woods” as having other facets to them. The word “dark” could mean many things and is therefore read as mysterious. The word “deep” indicates some sort of knowledge. The woods have more knowledge then humans as the woods have been there a much longer time than human being have been. Another example of visual imagery is in line 4 where Frost writes, “his woods fill up with snow”. “Snow” makes you think of the cold and therefore could mean death. The act of “[filling] up with snow”, like the woods are filling up with death. The word “his” could indicate people in general. This could mean that the people who are supposed to be caring about the woods have long since forgotten about them. The woods are dying as everyone is back in the village and has forgotten about the nature that helps to sustain them in their everyday life. This is true in today’s time as well as people live in cities inside of skyscrapers and apartments. They do not realize where the materials come from to build their houses or where the food they buy comes from. They have lost touch with nature.

Another literary device that is used is metaphor. There is a metaphor in line 15 where Frost writes, “And miles to go before I sleep”. The word “miles” could mean places and destinations or even just things to do, like on a checklist. This line shows that there is a lot left to do and places to go. The speaker can’t die just yet. He has a lot left to accomplish. The fact that this line is repeated in line 16 makes you notice that it is a very important phrase to the speaker. He is trying to stress this point and repetition makes you notice that. This need to do something could refer back to the need to tell others to remember nature. He has a lot to do, and has a lot of people left to remind that nature is still around us and it has not forgotten about us as we have forgotten about it.

Throughout the poem “Stopping by the Woods on a Snowy Evening,” the theme of nature’s insistence on being heard is seen. Acknowledgement of our surroundings is not seen as important in today’s age because we have lost touch with nature. We do not realize all that nature does for us. We named the Earth ‘Mother Nature’ for a reason. We once knew that nature was our beginning and our end, that without nature we could not survive. Now we have forgotten about nature in the same way that people put their parents in a nursing home and never visit. We have forgotten our roots, where we come from. Whether soft and sweet or loud and furious, through hail, storms, hurricanes, or even a pitter-patter of rain on a window pane, nature will be heard. Nature will be acknowledged. Nature is always there, surrounding you.