Robert Frost is considered one of the greatest American poets of the twentieth century. His contributions to the literary world are immense and have been inspiring poets and writers for decades. But why did Robert Frost start writing poetry in the first place?
One of the most commonly accepted reasons is that Frost was encouraged to begin writing poetry by his colleague and mentor in writing, Edward Thomas. Thomas recognized Frost’s passion and aptitude for writing early on and encouraged him to pursue it as a creative outlet and potential career. Thomas himself had already made a name for himself as a poet before befriending Frost and his occasional advice on Frost’s work provided invaluable motivation for his work.
In addition to the encouragement he found from Thomas, Frost happened to be living in the ideal place at the perfect time for any aspiring poet. His home life, in the rural state of New England at the turn of the twentieth century, was sheltered and insulated from the outside world, giving him the secluded environment he needed to write in peace. Furthermore, Frost and his family had access to vast reaches of forests and lake, which provided much inspiration and nature-based muses for his artistic output.
Ultimately, Frost found an outlet in poetry that could rival his interest in the English language, a language he’d grown up speaking and had a knack for. His thesaurus-like knowledge lent itself to the finest descriptions of the landscape around him. Frost often used vivid imagery as a device to describe feelings and emotions he had, but couldn’t quite express in prose.
It was also Robert Frost’s immense talent of being able to craft compassionate and accessible works that helped draw people to his work. While Frost often wore melancholy and imagery of death on his sleeves, his work was often approachable in form, which resonated with readers far and wide. With sharply layered and often witty writing, Frost could capture different moods and evoke emotions even with the simplest of phrases.
From a combination of these elements and more, Robert Frost started his journey as a poet, and it’s hard to argue that it’s been anything but a success. Frost’s work spans through generations and still speaks to people today.
Nature’s Influence
Though he found solace in the rural landscapes of New England, it wasn’t simply the seclusion of a rural life that informed is work. Much of his inspiration was drawn from the nature around him, especially the forests and lakes. He was enamored by the vastness of their reach and the unbridled potential of change – from the shifting of leaves in autumn to the subtle blooms of spring – Frost drew many muses from nature. An oft-quoted line from “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening” says “The woods are lovely, dark and deep. But I have promises to keep, and miles to go before I sleep.” Here Frost personifies the woods as a dreamscape of promising possibilities, though one’s obligations must be met first.
Other works, such as “The Road Not Taken” are equally inspired by natural scenes, offering interpretations to the reader that may differ from the author’s intent. Frost expresses his feelings of influence and choice when faced with two paths leading off in the woods. As he makes a choice to take one path instead of the other, his words forms the idea of choice and agency only one is granted in isolated landscapes. Nature allowed him to explore new perspectives and different interpretations, something that could only be found in his beloved environment.
The Power of Language
While nature had a powerful influence on Frost’s work, the language was equally an important factor. His work and the way he structured his poem revealed different layers in one’s experience, and how language can manipulate how one feels. He had a knack for taking the most basic of bare words and conveying moving, and often complex, emotions.
Frost was an expert of the English language and often wrote to investigate complex feelings and emotions while maintaining an accessible tone. Much of this is displayed in his political works, such as “Choose Something Like a Star.” Here, Frost discusses the apolitical party nature of the universe, a difficult feat to accomplish without sounding overly complicated. However, with his talent for language Frost was able to emote the higher ideas of this work with an elegant control of artistic language and imagery.
Rising Popularity
Perhaps it was his ability to ebb and flow between complex and accessible language that made Frost a popular name among readers and critics. Most of his readers could not argue the beauty of his works, leading them to appreciate the depth of his work through the smooth, accessible quality of it. By the 1940s, Frost was held in high regard in the American literary community and nominated for his first Pulitzer Prize. His forward-thinking works captured the emotions of the world at the time and solidified his position as one of the greats.
Frost’s success only continued to rise as he became one of the most widely read poets of the twentieth century. He taught at Harvard University and appeared on television, television interviews and political events. His work was becoming increasingly popular, even as his success left him overexposed and controversial. His works found their way into books, movies, theatre and eventually, conferences dedicated to the analysis of his work.
Conclusion
It is clear to see why Robert Frost started writing poetry, and why he became the most successful poet of his time. With loyal encouragement from Edward Thomas, a natural love for the English language, and a unique way of transcribing raw emotion, Frost’s works spoke to readers both immediately and gradually as they peeled back the layers. His success was no doubt due in part to his ability to speak to the everyman about complex ideas, as well as resonating with emotions of the time.
