Robert Frost was the well-known poet of the 20th century. He is renowned for his representations of traditional rural life and his personal reflections on nature. Many of his published works aim to bring forth complex philosophical connotations. Robert Frost has released a total of 8 books throughout his lifetime; these books contained a total of over 1500 poems. While some of his poems were based on subjects such as rural life, nature and memory, a great many of them tackle knotty questions on human emotions, the unresolved mystery of life and death, religious doubt, and metaphysical experiences.
Estimates of the total number of Robert Frost’s poems range widely. Though his official published works include his eight books featuring over 1,500 poems, some scholars also include other unpublished and remaining works he composed throughout his lifetime. Some reports suggest Frost wrote a total of 2,000 poems though, considering the difficulty of proving such a figure and the number of poetrings Robert Frost wrote, such a number is seldom accepted. There is no way to definitively quantify Robert Frost’s total amount of poems, and the issue remains largely speculative.
Undoubtedly, Robert Frost is most commonly associated with the 4 classic poems: ‘The Road Not Taken’, ‘Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening’, ‘Mending Wall’ and ‘Birches’. These 4 poems remain to be Robert Frost’s most famous and oft-referenced works, boasting dozens of interpretations, analyses and critiques. In addition to these classic poems, Robert Frost’s works also feature the heartwarming poem ‘The Gift Outright’, his first published poem ‘The Tuft of Flowers’, and the landmark ‘After Apple-picking’.
As of 2000, Frost’s works are commonly found in a collection called The Poetry of Robert Frost, published and edited by Edward Connery Lathem. After his death in 1963, Frost’s works went through numerous editions and retouches. This collection is said to contain all of Robert Frost’s famous works, and this includes many of the lesser-known works such as ‘The Need of Being Versed in Country Things’ and ‘Design’. According to this specific collection, Robert Frost’s total body of work consists of 1,143 poems.
Overall, Robert Frost was a prolific composer. Estimates of his total number of poems range greatly, but the collection The Poetry of Robert Frost is the most commonly accepted source featuring Robert Frost’s 1,143 poems. Despite this, speculation regarding the total amount of Frost’s remaining poems remains likely to be unresolved; however, it is evident that Frost was a celebrated poet and was recognised by the American public throughout his lifetime.
Early Life of Robert Frost
Robert Frost was born on March 26, 1874 in San Francisco, California, to William Prescott Frost Jr. and Isabelle Moodie. His mother, a Scottish immigrant, was a teacher, and his father was an editor of the San Francisco Evening Bulletin, and later an unsuccessful grocer. Though he lost his biological mother at the age of 11, Frost identified more with his stepmother, who encouraged him to read and to write. After graduating from high school in 1892, Frost attended Dartmouth College for 2 years, but fell ill and returned home without graduating. He worked several jobs before being appointed as the editor of the Lawrence, Massachusetts Daily American.
Frost experienced several significant romantic relations in his life; his first engagement in 1894 was to Elinor White whom he had met in 1892. Robert Frost and Elinor were married in December 1895 and had six children throughout their marriage. Robert Frost wrote several of his poems between the years 1895 – 1916, a time period that historians affectionately obelise as ‘The Years of Triumph’. Despite the much success Robert found during this period in life, the Frost family encountered financial hardship and depression.
It was not until 1912 when Robert Frost was 38 that he became a well-known poet. In 1914, he severed ties with his publisher David Nutt to self-publish his works, receiving favourable responses. Despite a well-received success in the United Kingdom in 1913, Frost received indifference in the United States. It was not until he was met with praise in England in 1914 that his works were lauded in the United States.
Robert Frost accepted a Fellowship at the University of Michigan in 1921 and moved to Franconia, New Hampshire, in 1923, where he subsequently purchased a small farm and eventually became a notable New England poet. He attended and was the first poet to deliver talks at the Library of Congress in 1958. In 1962, Robert Frost was appointed the Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress, a post that was later renamed Poet Laureate. He was the recipient of four Pulitzer Prizes for poetry, and in his lifetime, his poetry sold millions of copies in the United States and had been translated into many languages.
Robert Frost’s Writing Style
Robert Frost’s poem-writing style is often deemed ‘classic’, classified by rhyme and meter, traditional punctuation and syntax, and a conversational tone. His works often reflect a rural, New England lifestyle that Frost was most familiar with and to which he related the most. Frequent references to rural life and mental illness can be seen in his works as explicitly conveyed experiences or as implied innuendos. He often embraced lyricism and traditional approaches to composing, though his poems contain numerous, hidden messages and metaphors. Additionally, Frost often littered his poetry with musical allusions and a metrical freedom, which can be seen in the majority of his works.
Frost often shifts between intensely personal themes and traditional subjects, often explaining the complexity of life, conveying discomfort and an overall uncertainty for the future. Many of Frost’s works also feature nature, intimate dialogue of characters, clever metaphors and multi-dimensional creativity. Robert Frost also featured New England culture as part of his writing, often as a substitute for tackling difficult emotions and mental illness. While Robert Frost often delved into complicated topics and conveyed his personal doubts and uncertainly, many of his works contain a deeper layer that stresses the overarching beauty and complexity of life.
Frost was also versed in metaphysical writing, frequently reflecting on human emotions and experiences. He commonly challenged organized religion, although some of his works feature a religious or metaphysical undertone. For example, ‘Design’ is thought to be a poem about the existence of God and the issue of predestination vs free will. Many of his works feature his personal struggles with religion and suggests a ‘bigger picture’ than the tangible and ‘known’ world.
Recognition and Awards
Robert Frost received a staggering amount of praise and recognition during his lifetime. He was nominated and/or granted prestigious awards over multiple decades. In 1924, he was presented the Pulitzer Prize for his second collection of poetry, and later received the Pulitzer Prize in 1931, 1937 and 1943. In 1960, Frost was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest civilian honor in the United States. In 1961 he received his fourth Pulitzer Prize and the title of Poet Laureate in 1962.
Frost received honorary degrees from Harvard University, Dartmouth College and Cambridge University. In October 1959 he received an honorary doctor of letters from Oxford University, and later in 2012, the university celebrated the centennial of Frost’s acceptance of an honorary degree from the University. Frost is currently the only poet in history to ever receive two honorary degrees from Oxford.
Legacy and Death
Robert Frost’s place in American Literature is unquestionable; he is frequently referred to as the leading poet of 20th century America. His works were raved about not only for their technical complexity and depth, but for the captivating power of their searching and questioning. These qualities of Frost’s works remain to make a powerful impression on readers, be it modern or past.
Frost experienced significant health deterioration in the decades before his death in 1963. Over in 1959, Frost was diagnosed with prostate cancer and underwent successful surgery. In 2010, his gravestone at Bennington College was corrected due to an inaccuracy originally made by Frost’s children. He was originally buried in Old Bennington Cemetery but was disinterred and re-buried in Bennington College in the presence of six hundred guests, including President John F. Kennedy.
Influence on Likewise Poets
The influence of Robert Frost’s works can be seen in the works of later poets. This great number of post-Frost poetrings pay homage to him, as well as traditional New England-style works. Several authors, including Thomas Lux, Robert Hass and Richard Wilbur, utilize Frost’s techniques of double meanings and personal connotations, as well as creating an overall similar poetic mood. The influence of Frost can especially be seen in Wilbur’s works, which often discuss the meaning of life and evoke personal feelings much like the works of Frost.
In addition to the later poets, many writers such as James Joyce, Thomas Hardy and Sylvia Plath have remarked Frost works’ to be influential to their writing. Plath stated she felt Frost’s works to be ‘full of sound and design’ and her own works, such as ‘The Hill’, are said to be inspired by Frost’s poem ‘Mending Wall’.
Astounding Popularity During His Lifetime
In his lifetime, many people in the public praised Frost for his works, both academic scholars and the public at large. Robert Frost’s ability to write about difficult topics with relatively simple and understandable diction made him an attractive and attractive poet to read. Thus, he became an iconic household name, although in more recent decades he has been overshadowed by more contemporary authors.
The popularity of his works and his celebrity status never disappeared over the course of his life. As early as the 1920s, ated, he was a well-known figure in the literary world. Frost was a frequent guest at literary galas and offered numerous talks worldwide. He also received frequent requests for him to identify other authors’ works, and he’s become a prominent figure in the literary community.
Frost’s contemporary popularity was felt in other aspects of life. In 1958, Senator John F. Kennedy requested Robert Frost to read a poem at his inauguration, and in 1962, the Kennedy administration honored Frost with an appointment as Poet Laureate. Frost’s works have been featured in genres outside of literature, including an episode of the popular television show The Simpsons.
Career Early End
Robert Frost’s career was cut short due to his declining mental health. In his 70s, Frost began to experience a decline in his physical condition and later, his mental health. He developed pneumonia and other associated illnesses and later suffered from depression and anxiety. His physical decline led him to become more reclusive and his friends stated he became ‘lost within himself’. This physical decline forced Robert Frost to employ an extended stay at an asylum but he was released later in August 1963. On January 29th, he passed away in his home at the age of 88.
