Robert Frost, one of America’s most beloved modern poets and a Pulitzer Prize winning author, died in Boston, Massachusetts on January 29th, 1963. Born on March 26th, 1874 in San Francisco, California, Frost was a prolific writer who had a lasting impact on American literature in the twentieth century.
Frost moved to Massachusetts with his family at the tender age of eleven and grew up on a farm in Lawrence. His fascination with nature and his environment can be seen in many of his works, including “The Road Not Taken” and “Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening”. In 1912, Frost published his first collection of poems, A Boy’s Will, which was very well received despite being his debut effort.
Frost was married twice, to Elinor Miriam White in 1895 and to a former student of his, Elinor Bettina (nee Hinkley) in December, 1940. He had six children in total. After the death of his beloved Elinor in 1938, Frost withdrew from his former life and could often be seen walking along deserted country roads.
Frost’s final years were not without hardship. In 1962, he had a operation in Boston. The operation was successful but Frost suffered a heart attack afterwards and passed away in his sleep. He is buried in the Old Bennington Cemetery in Bennington, Vermont, alongside his beloved wife Elinor.
Frost’s legacy lives on today. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest American poets of the twentieth century and is cited by many past and present popular singers and entertainers. His writing has been featured in several films, radio programs, and television shows, and the Robert Frost Farm in Derry, New Hampshire is a popular tourist attraction.
Despite the tragedy of his death, Frost’s memory will live on for centuries to come. He taught generations of readers to appreciate the beauty and subtleties hidden in nature and insightfully explored themes of love, life, loss, and faith in his work.
Frost’s Inspirations and Influences
Frost was greatly influenced by personal experiences, such as his farmer father’s misfortunes and his mother’s death. He also drew inspiration from landscapes and nature, often combining vivid details with philosophical musings. He was influenced by a variety of English and American poets including Robert Browning, Thomas Hardy, Alfred Tennyson and Walt Whitman.
Frost was also a prominent student of philosophy, and was highly selective about the topics he chose to write about. His poems often explored themes of existentialism, pessimism and nihilism. He often used symbols and metaphors to explore ideas of life and how to live it.
Furthermore, Frost had a great interest in linguistics, which can be seen in his attempts to use language creatively, often exploring its tone and various meanings. In some of his more famous works such as “The Road Not Taken” and “Mending Wall”, Frost can be seen to be playing on language in an attempt to bring double meaning to his phrases.
His often abstract thoughts and imagery also made his works stand out, as did his rhythmic meter and rhyme. His rhymes were always meticulously crafted, sometimes leading to a deliberate ambiguity in meaning. While Frost was never an academic in the traditional sense, he was widely read and well versed in English and American literature.
Themes in Frost’s Works
Frost was a narrative poet and much of his work deals with individual characters in unique situations. His works also often reflect his own emotions and feelings. Consequently, Frost’s work was populated with characters from all walks of life, from humble farmers to teachers, everyday people and loners. Frost often explored themes of love, jealousy, nature and death, and the power of fate.
Frost’s poetry often explored the idea of “living apart” and this is a theme that dominates many of his works. He explored the tension between being part of a community and also displaying a sense of individuality. He often examined the idea of taking paths in life less travelled as a foil to choosing safety and security.
Frost’s works often contain paradoxes. His most famous work, “The Road Not Taken”, stands as a testament to this. He embraced the idea that life is unpredictable and constantly shifting, and this led to many of his works talking themes of loneliness, loss, and the yearning for acceptance.
A key theme in his works was his need for freedom and independence. Oftentimes, Frost explored the idea of autonomy and the difficulties associated with allowing others in to one’s life. While this feeling of freedom can bring joy, it can also create feelings of isolation and despair, and this is echoed throughout his works.
Frost’s Impact on American Literature
Frost had a long and lasting impact on American literature. His works drew on traditional themes and used classic language to convey modern ideas. While he often experimented with different forms of writing, he also explored the inner workings of his characters in ways not seen before.
Frost’s writings often explored themes of nature which were uncommon to the time. His works were often compared to those of Walt Whitman, due the his mastery of unique language that reflected the views of American life at the time. He is often referred to as the bridge between Whitman and modern poets.
Frost was one of the first writers to make use of traditional New England stories as a way of exploring themes of loneliness and power. His works often straddle the line between realism and fantasy and often leave readers wondering if his works were rooted in reality or mere musings.
Frost often wrote about difficult themes and experiences in simple but meaningful ways, and was able to capture the essence of life. His works are often seen as timeless treasures, which readers can draw upon in times of hardship and sorrow and come away with a sense of hope.
Other Contributions and Achievements
Frost was awarded several accolades in his time, including four honorary degrees and a Pulitzer Prize in 1924. He also became the first American poet to be awarded the Congressional Gold Medal in recognition of his lifetime achievements, and the New Hampshire State Legislature voted to commemorate his contributions by naming Frost’s birthday “Robert Frost Day”.
Frost also had other talents besides writing, namely teaching. He was an English professor at Dartmouth College and Amherst College, as well as a lecturer at Harvard, and had many pupils who later became influential academics and poets.
Frost was highly sociable, and enjoyed helping others. He cultivated strong relationships with other authors and was often invited to give readings of his work. He also contributed greatly to the literary world, providing guidance and mentoring to many younger writers.
Frost’s works remain popular to this day and his influence can be seen in many of today’s prominent writers. His works will continue to inspire and move generations to come.
