Robert Frost’s poem ‘A Dream Pang’ is a timeless classic that continues to captivate readers today. The poem is composed of eight quatrains, each with a different rhyme scheme and poetic structure. In the poem, Frost explores themes of grief, love and identity. Through the narrator’s dream, the reader is taken on a journey through the sadness of loss, the depths of despair and eventual acceptance. Frost uses several techniques to convey his message of resilience, such as personification and symbolism.
The first quatrain of ‘A Dream Pang’ looks at the concept of grief and mourning. The narrator, “looking eastward”, is searching for something, but can’t quite determine what it is. The repetition of the question “Is there any pang lasts so long?” emphasizes the length of his grief and pain. The line “Make it a farmer of courage” suggests that he needs to have the courage to confront his emotions and come to terms with his grief.
Frost further investigates the concept of grief in the second quatrain. He personifies the snow, comparing it to a crowd of mourners, “weeping at a funeral”. By personifying the snow, Frost brings the feeling of grief to life, allowing the reader to relate to the same emotions. Additionally, the image of the snow creates a sense of emptiness and despair that reflects the narrator’s feelings.
The third quatrain of ‘A Dream Pang’ explores the theme of love and identity. The narrator is asking the “snowy meadows” to provide him with an answer to his questions of identity. He is hoping to discover something in the snow that will help him understand who he is. Love is alluded to by the use of the phrase “heartless remains”, suggesting that his heart is broken and he is trying to fill the void with something tangible.
The fourth quatrain of the poem is where Frost addresses the idea of resilience. The narrator is “meditating” and his soul is “at rest”. Here Frost is emphasizing the importance of going within yourself to find the courage to overcome grief and loss. By meditating, the narrator is finding the strength he needs to fight through his despair.
In the fifth quatrain, Frost adds another layer to this idea of resilience. The narrator talks of “a garden light” and finds solace in “the stars”. This imagery is symbolic of hope and renewal, which speaks to the idea of the narrator being able to find the strength to overcome his grief.
The final quatrain of ‘A Dream Pang’ brings the poem to its conclusion. The narrator is beginning to understand that grief and loss are an inevitable part of life, and that he must accept them. He identifies “a robe of patience”, which is symbolic of accepting his emotions and coming to terms with them.
Themes of Love in A Dream Pang
The themes of love and identity explored in Robert Frost’s poem ‘A Dream Pang’ are conveyed through the use of vivid imagery and personification. In the third quatrain, Frost speaks of the narrator asking the “snowy meadows” to show him his true identity. Here, Frost implies the idea that finding love is a way to find one’s identity. The idea that the narrator is searching for something greater than himself is an important theme in the poem. Additionally, Frost’s personification of the snow creates a sense of sadness and grief, hinting at the main theme of the poem being loss and grief.
The imagery of the snow also plays an important part in conveying the theme of love. The snow can be seen as a reflection of love, a reminder that “love shadows us”. The image of the snow suggests a gentle and tender presence, which speaks to the idea that love can help us to overcome loss and grief. As the narrator looks eastward, he comes to accept that love and loss are part of life, and he is reminded of the comforting presence of the “well- lit Garden”. Through the imagery of the snow, Frost is conveying the idea that love remains despite loss and grief. By accepting his grief and embracing the idea of love and identity, the narrator is able to find his peace.
Symbolism & Personification in A Dream Pang
Robert Frost’s poem ‘A Dream Pang’ is filled with symbolism and personification that conveys the theme of resilience. The snow is used as a symbol to represent grief and loss, and personified to bring the reader into the narrator’s despair. The “heartless remains” speak to the emptiness the narrator feels as he contemplates his situation. Additionally, Frost’s use of the phrase “a robe of patience” is symbolic of the narrator embracing his emotions and accepting the inevitable.
Personification is another technique Frost uses to convey his message. In the second and third quatrains, Frost uses personification to give life to the snow. By comparing the snow to a “funeral host” and “an answering spirit”, Frost brings the feeling of grief and loss to life, allowing the reader to relate to the narrator’s emotions. The personification also conveys the idea that grief and loss are an ever- present part of life, and that even in our darkest moments, we can find comfort in love and resilience.
Frost also uses symbolism to convey his message. The “well-lit Garden” is symbolic of hope, renewal and love. By looking to the stars, the narrator finds the strength and courage he needs to face his grief. The use of the garden imagery shows that love and resilience can help to overcome loss and despair. The imagery of the garden is also an important indicator of the poem’s theme of resilience.
Metaphors & Imagery in A Dream Pang
Robert Frost’s poem ‘A Dream Pang’ uses metaphors and imagery to reinforce the theme of resilience. “Make it a farmer of courage” is a metaphor for the narrator’s need to confront his emotions and work through his grief. This metaphor speaks to the idea that one must be brave and strong to overcome loss and despair. Additionally, Frost uses the imagery of the “snowy meadows” to suggest a sense of emptiness, creating a connection between the narrator’s emotions and the sorrow of the snow.
The imagery of the “well-lit Garden” provides a sense of hope and renewal. By looking towards the stars, the narrator finds courage, and creates a connection between himself and the beauty of the night sky. The imagery of the garden is a reminder that love and resilience can help to overcome sorrow and grief. The imagery of the garden reinforces the idea that one must be courageous and find strength within in order to overcome sadness.
Finally, Frost uses the concept of time to communicate the message of resilience. The phrase “Is there any pang lasts so long?” speaks to the idea that grief and loss are unavoidable parts of life, but that they will eventually pass in time. The imagery of the stars further reinforces this idea of time, reminding the narrator that although he may feel lost and alone, he will eventually find the strength to come to terms with his emotions.
Irony & Alliteration in A Dream Pang
Robert Frost’s poem ‘A Dream Pang’ employs irony and alliteration to emphasize the themes of love, grief and resilience. The narrator is asking the snow to “speak and tell” him the answers to his questions of identity, but the snow is unable to answer him. This creates a sense of irony, as the narrator is looking for something that can’t be found in the snow. This irony communicates the idea that we must look within ourselves for the answers to our questions.
Alliteration is another technique Frost uses to emphasize the theme of resilience. The alliterative phrase “meditating, musing, mourning” reiterates the idea of the narrator’s grief and pain, but also conveys the idea that he is beginning to come to terms with his emotions and is rebuilding his strength. This alliterative phrase is also symbolic of hope and renewal, as the narrator is accepting his grief and finding acceptance.
The use of irony and alliteration allows Frost to bring the themes of love and grief to life, conveying the idea that one must be brave and resilient in order to overcome their sadness and despair. These techniques allow the reader to connect to the narrator’s emotions and experience the journey to resilience.
