Robert Frost has written many renowned poems, but not all were sonnets. In fact, very few of his works were written in this format. According to the Academy of American Poets, Frost penned only 13 sonnets during his lifetime. He wrote many more works of poetry that did not belong to the sonnet form. Among these are some of Frost’s most famous works, such as ‘The Road Not Taken’ and ‘Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening’.
The reason for Frost opting not to write most of his works in the form of a sonnet is largely attributed to his affinity for free verse and an aversion to the traditional strictures of a sonnet. Additionally, Frost’s works have a unique character that often strays from the traditional conventions of sonnet structure. For example, many of his works contain a complex, poetic play on meter and syntax.
Frost’s most famous non-sonnets are among his most beloved poems. ‘The Road Not Taken’ is a meditative poem involving uncertainty and the self-dualistic choices we make, while ‘Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening’ is a piece of narrative poetry, meditating on the beauty of nature and the philosophical struggle between duty and desire. Both of these works have attained iconic status, with ‘The Road Not Taken’ being particularly influential.
From more philosophical verse to more whimsical works, the varied body of poetry Frost left behind was ripe with divergent forms and structures. Frost’s poems may be sonnets or not, but they are all inherently timeless and beautifully poetic. While some may find solace in the form of the sonnet, others may find comfort in Frost’s bold, beautiful, and often erratic works of poetry.
Significance of Sonnets in Poetry
The sonnet is one of the most popular forms of poetry, and one of the oldest. Traditionally, this form consists of 14 lines of verse, divided into octave and sestet, and adhering to a particular rhyme scheme. This type of poem has been used for centuries, and has been employed by some of the most iconic poets, such as William Shakespeare, John Donne, and Emily Dickinson. Despite its ancient pedigree, the sonnet retains a relevance today, with modern poets still crafting sonnets and finding success in delivering ardent poetic musings.
Sonnets have a unique power of expression. The rhyme scheme and limited number of lines allows for a strong emphasis on the particular theme or argument presented. This emphasis creates a heightened tension which is often regarded as the ‘turn’ of the poem. This ‘turn’ helps to bring together the various strands presented in the sonnet, presenting a whole that speaks to the human condition as a universal truth, something which was especially important to Robert Frost.
Many of Frost’s works are famously lyrical and emotionally potent. His works often spoke to personal experience and the themes of nature, mortality, uncertainty, and self-reflection. The strength and power of Frost’s works, however, make them difficult to emphasise within the strictures of a sonnet. Consequently, Frost opted to abandon the form, instead focusingon the varied and powerful forms of poetry he was able to construct.
Alternatives to Sonnets
While the sonnet is a popular and eternal form of poetry, there are numerous other forms of verse available for exploration. Free verse is a type of poetry with less strictures and conventions, instead relying on rhyme, meter, and prose-like structure to create a poetic work. Poems written as free verse can be just as powerful as sonnets, such as Frost’s most famous works, which often take the form of narrative or sparse lyrical verse.
In addition to free verse, there are several other forms of poetry to explore. For example, Spenserian stanzas, couplets, sestinas, and more narrative forms such as the ballad. These other forms may have less traditional structure but can create unique and enduring works of art, perfect for encapsulating personal experience, heartache, or joy.
Robert Frost was well aware of the differing forms of verse, and utilised this knowledge to craft unique works of a timeless quality. His aversion to the traditional sonnet could have been attributed to this knowledge, as he wanted to explore other forms and write something that was more uniquely suited to his vision.
Frost’s Contribution to Poetry
Regardless of his choice of poetic form, Robert Frost remains one of the most widely acclaimed poets of all time. His works were cherished in his lifetime, and continue to be remembered and celebrated today. From the endlessly mysterious ‘The Road Not Taken’, to the poignant and pithy ‘Nothing Gold Can Stay’, Frost’s works are as powerful as they are timeless.
Frost’s career was one of notoriety, with his works being frequently read, discussed, and celebrated. His works were often poignant, capturing and expressing something of the human condition in a way that few poets could. His contributions to the world of poetry, both in the form of sonnets and other forms, have been profound and enduring, and continue to inspire readers the world over.
Influences on Modern Poetry
The luminous works of Robert Frost have inspired a great many artists and poets, both in his time, and in modern times. His works have seen adaptations to film, television, and theatre, and have been referenced in all genres of music. Frost has been recognised and celebrated in the world of academia, with professors, researchers and students expounding on his various poetic works.
As such, Frost has been instrumental in laying out a template for modern poetry. Though he may have shied away from the form of the sonnet for most of his works, his allusions to the traditional structure have not gone unnoticed. Numerous poets in the modern era have embraced and embraced William Shakespeare’s Petrarchan, the traditional form of the sonnet. While the sonnet has always been a mainstay of poetry, Frost’s influence has reimagined the form, breathing new life into it and showcasing it to a whole new audience.
Conclusion
Robert Frost is regarded as one of America’s most prolific and important poets, and his varied body of works cement this status. While Frost wrote only a handful of sonnets, these works remain amongst his most iconic. In addition, his penchant for free verse and forms of poetry beyond the sonnet serve to enrich the literature of the twentieth century and beyond. He is an important artist not just in the world of poetry, but in the cultures and communities of today, speaking to the same themes and ills of our modern world.
