Robert Frost’s poem “A Minor Bird,” is a lovely and subtle exploration of the author’s thoughts, feelings and observations. The poem is comprised of four rhyming couplets and paints an intimate portrait of a small and seemingly insignificant bird. Frost begins the poem by personifying the bird, asking it why it sings without “any sorrow in its throat,” and lauding the bird for its “cheery cree”. This personification of the bird could be seen as an attempt by Frost to connect with the bird and evoke sympathy in the reader. The next two lines of the poem focus on the birds cheerfulness and explain how a short life is “lovely and brief” and the word ‘brief’ appears to further emphasize the short, fleeting nature of life.
In the second stanza Frost changes focus and examines the impact and importance of the bird amidst the wider, changing world. He focuses on how the bird “sparrows and doves” easily cope with the “intricate pavements” which connotes the human domination of nature. This reflects the ongoing conflict between man and nature, and how the natural world is being increasingly diminished and dominated by the industrial age. Frost masterfully captures this in the poem and the phrase “intricate pavements” accurately depicts how humans are shaping a more and more urban landscape.
The third stanza of the poem contemplates the mortality of the bird and the idea of life ultimately ending in death. Frost creates a stark contrast, asking us to compare the “frailest beauty” of the bird with the knowledge of its eventual demise, before going on to celebrate the bird’s joyous singing and final moments of life. Frost skilfully combines contrasting ideas of mortality and cheerfulness which gives the poem an even deeper level of emotional intensity.
The fourth and final stanza of “A Minor Bird,” ties everything together and gives the poem a sense of closure. Frost acknowledges that despite the joyous singing of the small bird, the larger world continues to make changes and the bird will inevitably die. Frost reveals another layer to the poem here by hinting that in life, as in death, death still comes to us all and that we must accept and rejoice in the beauty of life. The poem ends with the lines “then up above!” and “singing, dying!”, which both serve to further emphasize the theme of mortality present in the poem.
Context of the poem
Robert Frost wrote “A Minor Bird” in 1923 in England, when Frost was living in the British countryside at a time of rapid industrialization and the expansion of cities. The idea for the poem was inspired by Frost’s observation of a disappearing population of birds due to the modernization of the landscape. The poem celebrates the beauty of nature and suggests that in our increasingly industrial world, there is still joy and beauty to be found in the natural world and in small things.
Style of the poem
The poem “A Minor Bird” is written in four rhyming couplets of iambic tetrameter. Frost chose to use couplets so that each line would have its own emphasis, rather than alternating lines, creating a sense of emotional intensity. The use of iambic tetrameter allows the poem to remain brisk and rhythmic, and it enables Frost to capture the intense emotions he wants to convey in the poem.
Tone of the poem
The tone of the poem is both sorrowful and joyful at the same time. The poem begins with a sorrowful lament for the bird which is being neglected and reduced by the modernization of the landscape, but as the poem progresses, it shifts to celebration of the bird’s beauty and ability to overcome and adapt to its environment. The final line of the poem, “singing, dying!” seems to capture the dual nature of the tone, with Frost accepting the mortality of the bird, while also offering a quiet tribute to its resilience and joyfulness.
Symbolic Meaning of the poem
The poem “A Minor Bird” could be seen as a symbol of Frost’s own philosophy on life. It celebrates the beauty of life and encourages the reader to appreciate even the smallest and most seemingly insignificant things. It also suggests that despite the ever-changing state of the world, we should still seek out joy and beauty in what is around us and accept mortality as an inevitable part of life.
Conclusion
In “A Minor Bird”, Robert Frost has created a poem which provides a powerful and subtle examination of nature and mortality. Through the use of couplets, iambic tetrameter and cleverly crafted imagery, Frost was able to capture the complexity of human emotions and provide a unique insight into his own hopes, fears, and beliefs. The poem serves as an important reminder of the importance of enjoying and cherishing the beauty of life, no matter how small or insignificant it may seem.
