English Language, Literature & Culture

2017; 2(3): 25-30

http://www.sciencepublishinggroup.com/j/ellc
doi: 10.11648/j.ellc.20170203.11

Analysis on Nature in Robert Frost’s Poetry

Yuanli Zhang, Wei Ding*, Lixia Jia
English Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, Daqing, China

Email address:
[email protected] (Wei Ding)
*
Corresponding author

To cite this article:

Yuanli Zhang, Wei Ding, Lixia Jia. Analysis on Nature in Robert Frost’s Poetry. English Language, Literature & Culture.
Vol. 2, No. 3, 2017, pp. 25-30. doi: 10.11648/j.ellc.20170203.11

Received: March 21, 2017; Accepted: April 6, 2017; Published: May 17, 2017

Abstract: Nature is the most distinguished feature in Robert Frost’s poems. Frost possesses deep love and sympathy towards
nature. However, the typical pastoral life is not the central theme in Frost’s poems. Instead, Frost concentrates on the dramatic
conflict happened in the natural world. His poems usually begin with an observation in nature and proceed to the connection to
human psychological situation. According to Frost, nature is not only the source of pleasure, but also an inspiration for human
wisdom. People will get the enlightenment from observation, thus nature becomes a central character in his poetry rather than
merely a background.

Keywords: Robert Frost, Poetry, Nature

sufficiently demonstrates that Frost is well received in his

1. Introduction country, if not the whole world up to now, and “his poetry
Robert Frost was one of the most widely read poets in the continues to be a part of an American culture”.
20th century American literature. Speaking of Frost, people In the early 1980s, the Robert Frost Society was founded
may refer that he was a successful poet who was the only to perpetuate and encourage the study of his life and work.
poet ever invited to read his poem at a presidential The founding of the Robert Frost Review in1999 and the first
inauguration. For many people it is an enjoyable experience international academic symposium on Frost in 1997 clearly
to read Frost’s poems which mostly characterized by nature. show the study of Frost gains great popularity and draw more
For his spending a long life living in the New England and more attention from critics around the world.
countryside, nature easily became his chief subject. The Pastoral Art of Robert Frost by John F. Lynen is well
Researches on Frost’s nature poetry have been various ever worth reading in its entirety for insight into the use of
since the poet became famous. Some researchers focus on pastoralism as a poetic device. Lynen’s observation of how
artistic technique of poetry writing while some others show Frost uses nature in his poetry is particularly useful. [4] In
interest in the contents and themes. Besides, some Theory of Literature (Third Edition, 1956), Austin Warren
researchers pay more attention on the poet himself----his makes a comment on Robert Frost’s natural symbolism to
philosophies. Such researchers help to bring the Frost study show that in most of his poems, there are some natural
to a considerable height. This paper has a discussion on symbols which are quite difficult for readers to grasp and it is
Frost’s view on nature, so that we can better understand his for his natural symbolism that he has drawn a wide audience
nature poems and better appreciate his poetic art. What’s all over the world [5]. It is true that Frost is keen at the use of
more, by delving into Frost’s view of nature, we can know natural symbolism, for, nature in the eyes of Robert Frost,
more about his nature poems and more about the implications according to Robert D. Richardson, is symbolic of spirit.
lie behind natural scenes, and learn more about the natural That is to say, when he writes something about nature, he
environment around us. doesn’t describe nature purely, instead, he uses natural
According to Wilcox and Barron, Robert Pinksky, the 1999 objects or events as symbols to reveal and express something
poet laureate of the United States, “conducted a yearlong more profound. George W. Nitchie, in “The World of Nature”
survey of Americans, asking for their favorite poet, and Frost collected in Human Values in the Poetry of Robert Frost,
won national poll by a large and impressive margin”. It comments on Frost’s view of nature, observing that Frost’s
26 Yuanli Zhang et al.: Analysis on Nature in Robert Frost’s Poetry

values and view of nature are intimately related. [6] Robert inspiration for human wisdom. People will get the
W. French reveals in Robert Frost and the Darkness of enlightenment from observation (as in the “Birches”). Nature
Nature that there is impenetrable barrier between man and becomes a central character in his poetry rather than merely a
nature. [7] background.
Nature is employed as a metaphor in Frost’s poems. He
2. Robert Frost and His View on Nature describes the natural object and leads the reader to a
comparison. Frost’s poems are easy and precise in the literal
Robert Lee Frost (1874-1963) had widely been received in level, since his observation is accurate. However, he is not
American, who received the Pulitzer Prize four times, and was going to record the natural world. He is making an analogy to
the only poet ever invited to read his poem at a presidential some human condition through telling the nature stories.
inauguration. Though he never forces his idea on the reader, he hopes the
Born in San Francisco, Robert Lee Frost was named after reader is close to it. Frost’s poetry is rooted in his
the defeated Confederate general Robert E. Lee. After the psychological concern and expressed through a material
death of his father, the rebellious son of a prudent, embodiment with a natural background. Frost uses to spend
hard-working, successful Massachusetts farmer, he moved time to depict it sensitively and carefully, using skillful poetic
with his mother and sister to eastern Massachusetts near his and figurative language. His poems serve as good examples to
paternal grandparents. study the use of images and poetic skills.
Deeply influenced by his experience in his young, Robert
Frost had a unique position in modern poetry. He has been 2.2. Robert Frost’s View on Nature
widely received by audience while his poetry does not receive Before we come to discuss Frost’s nature poetry, two
careful critical judgment. This neglect is due much to the figures must be mentioned here: Wordsworth and Emerson.
nature of his poetry. His poetry seems to lack the complexity As we know both of them are famous for their view on nature.
one expects to find at the center of the best modern verse. His The reader’s attitude toward nature is well determined by the
verse form is traditional, his sentences are always clear, and lake poets and their English successors. Wordsworth is a
his language is often close to every day speech. His simplicity pantheist who believes that God exists everywhere in nature.
makes many readers’ exploration stop here. Besides, nature is According to him, nature is in harmony with mankind, nature
frequently used in his poetry. Frost denied being a nature poet. and man are in the spiritual union. Emerson highlights his
“I’m not a nature poet,” he once declared, “there is almost view on nature in his book, Nature (1836). Similar to
always a person in my poems.” [3] Wordsworth, he believes in the immanence of God in nature.
2.1. Robert Frost’s Nature Poetry Nature in Emerson’ s eyes is symbolic of spirit.
In many a poem of Frost, we know that Frost shares with
Robert Frost was the leading modern American poet of Wordsworth and Emerson a keen interest in nature. But Frost’s
nature and rural life. Most of his poems are upon natural perception of nature is more complicated than theirs.
element. He was very much interested in natural things; he
found beauty in common place. Although he has a keen 2.2.1. The Bright Side of Nature
understanding of natural world, Frost does not aim at In Frost’s poetry, there exist bright side of nature. In my
presenting natural scenery and charming rural life. His poems poems, we read the poet’s delight in nature----his trees, grass,
are concerned with human psychological condition. Robert and animals are described with such affection; his characters
Once said, “some people call me poet for nature because of the are full of such happiness. His nature is filled with beauty and
natural setting. But I am not a poet for nature, there is also benevolence. We can fully feel the poet’s affection to nature’s
something else in my poems.” [3] Robert Frost uses nature as beauty and grace.
a background to illustrate people’s psychological struggle “A Winter Eden” can serve as a good example of nature’s
with everyday life. His poems usually begin with an beauty. Look at the following stanzas:
observation in nature and proceed to the connection to human A winter garden in an alder swamp, Where conies now
situation, such as loneliness, helplessness, confusion, and come out to sun and romp, As near a paradise as it can be And
indifferent human relationship. not melt snow or start a dormant tree. It lifts existence on a
Nature is the most distinguished feature in Robert Frost’s plane of snow One level higher than the earth below, One level
poems. Frost possesses deep love and sympathy towards nearer heaven overhead, And last year’s berries shining scarlet
nature which is the source for inspiration. He used to wander red. It lifts a gaunt luxuriating beast Where he can stretch and
in the woods with his kids, and looked into the starry sky hold his highest feat On some wild apple tree’ s young tender
before sleep, from which he got the spiritual meaning out of bark, What well may prove the year’s high girdle mark. So
nature. However, the typical pastoral life is not the central near to paradise all pairing ends: Here loveless birds now flock
theme in Frost’s poems. Instead, Frost concentrates on the as winter friends, Content with bud-inspecting. They presume
dramatic conflict happened in the natural world, such as the To say which buds are leaf and which are bloom. A
confusion and dilemma in life (as in “Mending Wall”), and the feather-hammer gives a double knock This Eden day is done at
danger of nature (as in “Exposed Nest”). According to Frost, two o’clock. An hour of winter day might seem too short To
nature is not only the source of pleasure, but also an make it worth life’s while to wake and sport.
 English Language, Literature & Culture 2017; 2(3): 25-30 27

This poem is about the place of winter in the cycle of the they scarcely show the breeze, Were not, as’twere, the merest
seasons, and how winter symbolizes the point in the cycle of mask of gloom, But stretched away unto the edge of doom.
life that marks the transition to rebirth. We may find beauty in Increasingly enough, we see the transition of tree imagery
the snowy woods or have your mood lifted by the song of a run throughout Frost’s poetry. “Dark trees” become “dark
bird. Contrary to popular belief in winter as cold, death and woods” in “The Onset”:
bleakness, in this poem Frost shows us a beautiful, delight and Always the same, when on a fated night At last the gathered
lively scene. The winter garden, although “on a plane of snow lets down as white As may be in dark woods, and with a
snow”, is attractive with “last year’s berries shining scarlet song It shall not make again all winter long...
red”. The animals in the garden are active with their respective Then in “Come In”, the woods become the “pillared dark”
tricks. The birds flock as friends. This is really a lovely and from which a thrush’s bewitching singing is heard:
cheerful scene, a Winter Eden, as Frost suggests by the title. Far in the pillared dark
Nature as a benevolent being is not only capable of pleasing, Thrush music went----
but also comforting man. Let’s look at another Frost’s poem, Almost like a call to come in
“Tree at My Window”: To the dark and lament
Tree at my window, window tree, My sash is lowered when Darkness is usually suggestive of mystery, ill omen and
night comes on; But let there never be curtain drawn Between terror. The poem shows the poet as he stands by the edge of the
you and me. woods, listening to the song of an unknown bird. The song of
Vague dream head lifted out of the ground, And thing next the bird is fascinating and lures the poet step in the dark woods.
most diffuse to cloud, Not all your light tongues talking aloud But he resists the temptation and does not come in. What
Could be profound. keeps him off the woods is their darkness.
But tree, I have seen you taken and tossed, And if you have So is nature in Frost’s poetry, dual-charactered, namely,
seen me when I slept, You have seen me when I was taken and bright and dark. It can be a friend of man, but a hostile friend
swept And all but lost. at times. It can also be an enemy, but a generous one from time
That day she put our heads together, Fate had her to time.
imagination about her, Your head so much concerned with
outer, Mine with inner, weather. 3. Nature as a Source of Human Wisdom
The poet makes a comparison between himself and the tree
out of the window. Although he will draw the curtain at night, “How many times it thundered before Franklin took the hint.
he hopes that there will always see each other and be intimate How many apples fell on Newton's head before he took the
friends. The branches of the tree look like a “vague” head hint. Nature is always hinting at us. It hints over and over
wavering in the wind. The rustle of the leaves could be again. And suddenly we take the hint.”----Robert Frost
meaningless talks and make no sense to the poets. However, Nature is always a hint to us. It hints all the time until we
the poet has seen the tree tossed in the storms, and the tree has suddenly see the light. Franklin took the hint of thunder and
also witnessed the poet swept by the storm in his dreams. The invented lightening rod. Newton took the hint of a falling
poet’s fate is closely connected with the tree’s, and they share apple and developed the Law of Universal Gravity. Each of us
a deep sympathy with each other who struggle against their benefits from nature. We take hints from nature and strengthen
own troubles. The poet feels that they are companions-- the our knowledge. We may not become giants like Franklin and
tree is standing up in the natural weather, and the poet is Newton, but we can become wiser persons. Nature is a source
standing up in his inner weather. of human wisdom.
By now we have read some poems by which Frost extols
nature at its beat, is the embodiment of both beauty and 3.1. Close Relationship between Man and Nature
benevolence. Yet these only constitute one side of Frost’s view Man and nature are closely related. We can not live
on nature. There is always the other side. without nature, even if we live all our lives in a large city. In a
2.2.2. The Dark Side of Nature sense, human beings are part of nature. We are governed like
Lionel Trilling defined Frost as a “terrifying poet” who the other creatures by the same rules in nature.
depicted a “terrifying universe” [7] at a dinner party In Frost’s poetry man and nature, and nature and man are
celebrating Frost’s eighty-fifth birthday. Trilling’s speech counter-parts of each other. [9] We cannot separate one from
made many critics re-examined Frost’s poetry, which they the other. He makes nature as a medium, describe nature in all
once thought bright and optimistic. In fact, the “dark” quality its beauty, loveliness and even meanness, but ultimately the
in Frost’s poetry is so conspicuous that it will by no means journey of each poem ends in the problems of man and
escape our eyes. [12] solution of this problem in human psychology. The poems of
The “dark” quality brings about the dark side of nature in Frost in which, he takes up, the theme of contraries have a
Frost’s poetry. The word “dark”, in its various forms, often universal import. In these poems, the persona poet is not an
occurs in Frost’s nature poetry. “Into My Own”, the first poem individual but a type of all human beings who are obliged to
in Frost’s first book, A Boy’s Will, begins: live life in the midst of nature to earn their livelihood but
One of my wishes is that those dark trees, So old and firm livelihood is not their only aim. May be, they are farmers but
they are educated farmers, thinking human beings with whom
28 Yuanli Zhang et al.: Analysis on Nature in Robert Frost’s Poetry

finding a solution to their problems is as important as their gradually he turns to meditation on the implication of the
living. Since they think intensively and extensively to find a natural scene; and finally he ends his poem with the “wisdom”
solution of their problems, thinking becomes with them an of an insight into the human situations. Nature, to Frost, is an
infinite process. The more they think, the more they learn until inspiration.
they feel that learning is an endless process. Therefore, so long Frost’s poem, “The Pasture”, which Frost included at the
as man is thinking, and he will think forever, the poetry of beginning of every collection of his poetry, can be a good
Frost will remain expose relationship between man and example of his expressive and commonsense style as well as
nature. the source of delight and wisdom. The village farmer who is
the “persona” of the poem plainly talks about his daily
3.2. Symbolic Quality of Nature activities with a sense on delight narrating at the same time the
Symbolism is the use of one object or action (a symbol) to delightful bucolic atmosphere in the sight of “pasture spring”
represent or suggest something else. [14] It is a prevalent use and a “little calf” tottering beside its mother. But each stanza
for poets to express their ideas through indirect statements, ends with wisdom, which actually means, deep understanding
thus invest the object with an implied meaning. Thus of life, expressing the limitations of human life: “I sha’nt be
symbolism means a veiled mode of communication. A poem gone long”. The farmer enjoys his life with simple activities
may have a surface meaning but it may also have a deeper within the domain of his farm though he cannot go beyond:
meaning which is understood by the reader only by I’m going out to clean the pasture spring;
interpreting the deeper significance of the words and phrases I’ll only stop to rake the leaves away
used. [15] Frost’s poetry always presents the general through a (And wait to watch the water clear, I may):
particular scene. I sha’n’t be gone long.----You come too.
“After Apple Picking” is an good example of Frost’s I’m going out to fetch the little calf
symbolic poem. The poem is a description of the speaker That’s standing by the mother. It’s so young,
feeling tired after picking up a large amount of apples from his It totters when she licks it with her tongue.
orchard tree. The act of harvesting apples is a symbol for the I sha’n’t be gone long.----You come too.
daily work in life. Afterwards, the speaker reveals his insight The farmer expresses his delight inviting others; “You come
as: too”. The commonsense simplicity of verse, along with deep
“Essence of winter sleep is on the night, philosophy of life, creates a sense of delight and wisdom for
The scene of apples: I am drowsing off.” readers.
The speaker is aware of the coming winter after the Frost’s wisdom has been well recognized. He is referred to
harvesting autumn. On the literal level, it is a natural circle for as a farmer sage, a shrewd poet, a man of insight, and a
the change of the seasons, and sleep is what one must get powerful seer who sees what others don’t see. It is obvious
during the night. On the deeper meaning, winter is a symbol that Frost’s wisdom comes largely from his communication
for death. The speaker knows that he is getting old, and death with nature. If he denies being “a nature poet”, as we have
is a natural ending for him. After accomplishing the task in life, seen him declare earlier in his paper, he would not possibly
the speaker feels that he is drowsing off, which indicates that deny being a poet who is constantly inspired by nature.
he is ready for death.
Frost’s poetic language is simple and the natural world in 4. The Implications of Robert Frost’s
his poems are as true as he sees it. However, the meaning he
expressed is significant, which can only be achieved through a View on Nature
symbolic reading. People love Robert Frost’s poems because they can always
3.3. “From Delight to Wisdom”: Nature’s Inspiration to learn something about life by reading them. Specifically, the
Frost implications of Robert Frost’s view on nature can be shown
from the reading of his poems. In this part, I shall take a step
“It (a poem) begins in delight, it inclines to the impulse, it further to explore the implications of Frost’s view on nature.
assumes direction with the first line laid down, it runs a course
of lucky events, and ends in a clarification of life----not 4.1. Dialectical Mind to View Nature
necessarily a great clarification, such as sects and cults are The first implication I study here is that nature demands
founded on, but in a momentary stay against confusion.” man a dialectical mind towards itself. In other words, we
----Robert Frost should hold a dialectical mind if we are to treat nature properly.
This quotation is Frost’s famous dictum on how a poem This is decided by nature’s dual character.
works. It is well known that Robert Frost, in a foreword to his In 2.2, we have discussed about Frost’s view on nature,
Collected Poems (1939), wrote: a poem “begins in delight and namely, nature has two sides----the bright side and the dark
ends in wisdom.” [8] Here the word “delight” does not side. These two sides are opposed to each other, but they can
necessarily take its literal meaning of joy, but the wonder at not be separated from each other. To hold a dialectical mind to
some unexpected sight. Often Frost is seen to begin a poem view nature, we must enumerate both sides. We should know
with the “delight” of observing a particular natural scene; but that there is no clear dividing line for good and evil in nature.
 English Language, Literature & Culture 2017; 2(3): 25-30 29

A scene of snow-covered land is beautiful because of its purity 5. Conclusion

and tranquility, but there is the treat of chill and desolation.
Such mind to view nature is one of dialectic. It is different Robert Frost is beyond doubt a unique poet in modern
from either the Romantic way or the post-Darwinian way of American literature. One element that accounts for his
treating nature. The Romantics have a tendency to uniqueness is the use of nature in his poetry. Frost denies being
overestimate nature’s love and benevolence. When they come a nature poet, but he seems never tired of using nature in his
to realize the transience of beauty and the harshness of reality, poetry. He has written a large number of nature poems
they often become sad and disillusioned. We can see examples throughout his career. Nature is used in his poems for different
of this in Wordsworth and Emerson, who both sang high purposes: it is sometimes the setting, sometimes the theme,
praise of nature’s beauty and benevolence in their early poetry, and sometimes a metaphor for a certain human situation.
but both turned gloomy in their late years with the recognition People love his poems for his clever use of nature, but they do
of nature’s evil [10]. The post-Darwinian nature poets, those not pay much attention to the poet’s view on nature that lies
who are influenced deeply by Darwin’s theory of evolution, behind his poetry.
are always too gloomy. They emphasize the coldness of nature As a matter of fact, Frost’s view on nature is an important
ad the helplessness of man before the grim facts of nature. In part of his heritage to us. It helps with our understanding of
Hardy’ s nature lyrics, we often see the bleakness of landscape, Frost’s poetry. What’s more, it provides us with valuable
coupled with the tragedies of those withered flowers and insight into the natural world around us. So it deserves to be
frustrated people. While Frost’s way of treating nature is studied. Nature is a source of human wisdom. There is a
different from both the Romantic and the post-Darwinian wealth in nature, and nature is, as Frost says, “always hinting
poets. He is an intermediary between the two. He can enjoy at us” [2]. Frost believes that there is close relationship
nature’s beauty, but he is always aware of nature’s terror. Frost between man and nature. We can not live without nature and
takes efforts to juxtapose good and evil in nature. To treat we are governed like the other creatures by the same rules in
nature properly, we should hold a dialectical mind. nature. He also believes in the symbolic quality of nature. In
many of his nature poems, he depicts nature as symbolic of the
4.2. Nature as a Book human world. He often begins a poem with the “delight” in
nature, and ends it with the “wisdom” that evokes on man.
A second implication I study here is that nature should be Frost’s views on nature are important implications for us.
read as a book. We might not forget Frost’s metaphor of nature On account of nature’s dual character, we need to hold a
as a book, as is shown in “The mountain he was climbing had dialectical mind towards it. We should juxtapose contradictory
the slant/ As of a book held up before his eyes/ (And was a text elements in nature, and then treat nature reasonably. A second
albeit done in plant).” [11] The mountain here represents implication is that we should read and analyze nature as a
nature, so nature is like a book held up before man’s eyes. [13] book, because nature is a source of wisdom.
What lies behind this metaphor is Frost’s recognition of
nature’s symbolic quality. Nature is full of symbols. Each
symbol is endowed with a certain meaning for mankind. With Acknowledgments
such symbols, nature can be read and analyzed just as a text. This work was supported by Program for Humanities and
As we know, Frost spends much of his time with nature. His Social Sciences of Heilongjiang Province (15WWE05)，Study
contact with nature is in evidence his “outdoor schooling”, on the Change of Themes in Robert Frost’s Poetry.
which is as important to him as the “indoor schooling”. [1]
Instead of written words, the book is done in vivid pictures:
rustling trees, great mountains, the sunshine, a rainfall... All
these pictures are dynamic and capable of exciting our sense
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