Robert Frost was an acclaimed American poet best known for his poems “The Road Not Taken” and “Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening”. One of many questions often asked by those seeking to better understand the life of the poet is “Did Robert Frost get married?”. The answer is yes, he got married twice in his lifetime.
Frost’s first marriage was to Elinor White, a high school classmate. They were married on December 19, 1895 at the age of 26 and had six children together. Elinor’s death in 1938 left him with a deep void and a period of despondency followed. Frost wrote a number of poems during this period that featured themes such as longing, love and loss.
In 1941 Frost was introduced to Kay Morrison. They became friends and after the death of Frost’s eldest daughter, Kay and the poet announced their engagement and married soon after on November 5th. She had two sons from a previous marriage and Frost appointed them his legal heirs. Their remaining years were spent in adverse health, mainly due to Frost’s age and alcoholism but through it all the couple remained devoted to the last.
It can be seen then that Robert Frost did in fact get married twice in his life, to Elinor White then later to Kay Morrison. Both times he chose someone to share and complete his life. After Elinor passed away in 1938, Frost could have withdrawn completely from any type of romantic relationship but instead, in 1941, he opened himself up to the possibility of love and found hope through meeting Kay.
Robert Frost’s Relationships Before Marriage
Although Robert Frost got married twice, he did not have a particularly long history of romantic relationships. In fact, it was reported that, prior to meeting Elinor, Frost had just one significant relationship which did not result in marriage. This relationship was with a woman named Abby Wood and is said to have occurred whilst Frost was studying at Harvard University.
However, as with all matters concerning his life, Frost was typically quiet and usually did not divulge the details of his experiences. As such, any speculation about his history with Abby Wood is mostly conjecture and there is no real evidence to support any claims made.
Based on this, we can assume that it is likely that Frost held a marriage and perhaps even a romantic relationship with Elinor as his first and only prior to that.
Frost’s Family After Marriage
In total, Robert Frost had six children with Elinor Frost, four of whom died in infancy. The surviving two were Elliot and Carol Frost. Upon his second marriage to Kay Morrison, Frost effectively became stepfather to her two sons; Erastus Hall (1928-2018) and Truman (1932-2012).
Although none of Robert Frost’s children followed their father’s footsteps into poetry, many of his grandchildren have had successes in the field. His granddaughter Lesley Frost can be said to have had the most success as a poet, having published several volumes of poetry.
Other grandchildren of Robert Frost, including Maria and Maynard, have gone on to produce a significant amount of writing concerning their grandfather’s life and his poetic works. However, none of them achieved the same level of recognition as their grandfather.
Final Years of Robert Frost
Robert Frost died of complications from prostate surgery in Boston on January 29, 1963 at the age of 88. His death was mourned by many, with President John F. Kennedy making a statement to commemorate the passing of the poet.
In his final years, Frost had retreated rural New England and spent most of his time either writing poetry or working on his farm. The majority of his later works featured pessimistic themes.
In addition, Frost wrote several books after his marriage to Kay Morrison, including the Before Winter Comes (1960) and Aftermath (1962) collections. These works were generally considered his best and showed a deeper understanding of life and its many complexities.
Legacy Of Robert Frost
Robert Frost’s influence on American literature is immense and he remains one of the nation’s most beloved poets. His works, often characterized by themes of nature, rustic life and rural America had an immense impact on readers and writers alike.
Frost became the first poet from the United States to be awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1912 and was an advisor to the Library Of Congress for several years. He was awarded several other honors and in 1960, he was given the Congressional Gold Medal.
Frost’s works are widely studied and are taught in schools and universities around the country. He is widely considered to be one of the most influential poets of the 20th century and his works continue to inspire writers to this day.
Critical Reception of Robert Frost’s Work
Robert Frost’s work has been part of academic and literary discourse since the very beginning. Critical appreciation of the poet’s work has always been divided, however. Some critics felt that his poetry was too clichéd and traditional, while others argued that his simplicity and lack of experimentation was a refreshing take on poetry.
Frost’s poems about nature were largely praised, however, and often these works were considered to be a combination of realism coupled with hints of romanticism. Some of his most popular works included “The Road Not Taken” and “Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening”.
In any case, many critics agreed that Robert Frost’s poems were clever, innovative and often meditative. His works have stood the test of time and remain popular to this day, often featured in books, movies, and TV shows.
Conclusion of Robert Frost’s Life & Career
Robert Frost left a lasting legacy on American literature and his works continue to inspire readers and writers all over the world. Despite the mixed critical reception of his work, Frost had a talent for conveying a wide range of emotions, from joy to sorrow and longing. His impact on American and world literature will continue to be seen for many years to come and he will remain an important figure for generations to come.
