Robert Frost, undoubtedly, was a romantic poet. He quotes one of his most famous poems, “The Road Not Taken”, with the line, “Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.”. It emphasizes how he chose the roads of romance even when they were not the popular choices, establishing him as a romantic poet. Frost’s works often explore themes of love, loss, innocence, and mortality. He was unafraid to draw on the silliness of simple life moments, or to take on the challenges of despondent moments. Doing so created a unique and masterful catalog of works that strongly influence the field of romantic poetry today.
Frost, like many other Romantic poets, believed in breaking through the boundaries of convention and exploring life through the eyes of the soul. He was known for his extensive use of nature in his works, often equating the beauty of nature with the intimacy of love. He also embraced transcendental ideas of reflection, questioning the power of faith in the face of adversity.
He was a master at grounding his works in the realism of tangible symbols, such as “country roads” of “wooden hills”. He did not rely on abstract concepts, but on the tangible moments of every day life that he could relate to and pour emotion into. The surrealism he adds frames these everyday moments and invests them with soul and purpose. His use of symbols specifically dedicated to the topics of love and faith propelled his works into the sphere of romantic poetry.
Frost’s use of the language of love and faith pervades much of his works. He often employed the language of love to create a unique form of intimate expression. He built language into a tool of poetry that could create a durable relationship between the poet, subject, and reader alike. He was an astute observer of human interaction and created beautiful works of romantic poetry that clearly illustrated the themes of love and seeking faith.
Frost paid a great amount of attention to structure and form in his works. He fully embraced the freedom of the Romantic period to explore the boundaries of meter and rhyme. He often fused traditional forms with free forms and combined popular with obscure forms. This workman-like creation of his poems allowed for flexibility and control of the words beyond typical expectations. His attention to detail allowed the works to take on a lyrical quality, creating hauntingly beautiful romantic poetry.
His poems of love
Frost’s poems of love conveyed both the innocence of youth, as seen in works such as “Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening”, as well as the realism of understanding what love ultimately is. Through tackling a larger scope in his work, Frost created a hallmark of his romantic poetry that firmly established him as a Romantic poet. His often-contentious works spoke to the darkness of love, the pain of loss, and the challenges of an honest relationship. His poems revealed a willingness to express himself openly and explore the depths of true love and faith.
His works of nature
His works of nature explored the power and potential of life. He created works of awe-inspiring beauty that focused on the fragility of existence and the raw power of nature. Frost showed the power of faith in the face of adversity and explored issues of mortality. He captured the essence of life in his works and articulated the virtues of living in harmony with nature. This exemplified how he elevated the spirit of romantic poetry.
His challenging works of faith
Frost had an unusual approach to exploring works of faith. He often painted an ambiguous portrait of faith and embraced the flaws of the human condition. Frost’s faith works were filled with doubt and skepticism but also expressed a profound sense of joy and victory. He used his works to probe the limits of faith in the face of opposition, ultimately showing the resilience of the human spirit and the invaluable power of faith.
His use of metaphor and similes
Frost was known for his frequent use of metaphor and similes to add a layer of significance to his works. He embraced the tools of personification, imagery, and allusion to craft powerful works of romantic poetry. He understood the power of language and the ability that could be unlocked to craft powerful and praiseworthy works. With so much unspoken love, emotion, and faith lying beneath the surface; Frost’s poetic works revealed depths of power and substance.
His reliance on structure
Frost was known for his reliance on structure to build on a framework of meaning. He employed invocations, traditional and free forms, and meter to create a field of the poem. This rigid structure bent and shifted in Frost’s hands, providing him with a platform to express the nuances of his works. By adhering to certain conventions, he was able to take the traditional and reimagine it, creating works that captivated millions.
His use of language
Frost’s use of language touches on a vast array of emotions and messages. He filled his works with sensual, yet mundane everyday moments that left the reader with a different understanding and appreciation of life. His words were meant to be read in various interpretations, leaving much of his work open for the reader’s interpretation. Through this attention to detail, Frost constructed works of lasting value, allowing the speaker’s voice to resonate far and wide.
