"The theme of "Stopping by Woods"--despite Frost's disclaimer--is the temptation of death, even suicide, symbolized by the woods that are filling up with snow on the darkest evening of the year.".
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In my point of view that yes it is , because the night and darkness shows the end, moreover there is the snow .that makes it harder to pass. I like this symboly , it shows being in a wood on the darkest evening is preceded by a hard journey in this hard wood - death - is proceded by a hard life and hard responsibilities that have to be accomplished.
ReplyDeleteAnd how would "and miles to go before I sleep" symbolize suicide?
DeleteSorry moon_tears but could you please explain for me , Why did you talk about the hard life and responsibilites ?
ReplyDeleteWhat can I understand from that ?
About the question , for me it's not mainly the death and suicide because he is already going out in that bad weather , What makes him go out in that weather ?
ReplyDeleteI think it's more about destiny and we have to fight this destiny to be alive .
well , I totally agree with You .We do have to fight our distiny to be alive . But what do You think of miles to go before I sleep what do You interpret " Sleep " .
ReplyDeleteI guess the hard weather reflects the hard life . Dont forget that he was also a little enjoyed in that weather and his horse - conscious- shake his harness to remind him that we have to go there is some place we have to be in . What makes him stand in such a weather if he doesnt like the weather and dont forget he used but not yet that means he feels that burdens of life are unworthy .
Dalia is me moon_tears
ReplyDeleteNice moon tears _ you guess that the hard weather reflects the life and in you final lines you asked that what makes him stand in such a weather if he doesn't like it , how can we like a hard life ????
ReplyDeleteand there are alot of things make him go out in that weather .
thanks
Im sorry to log in the third account but my prof asked me to log in my real name
ReplyDeleteAt first , what do you interpret the repetitions of " Miles to go before I sleep " It seems he is reluctunt to leave .
Second , according to the contrast yes there is a conrast . It is revealed in the poem in the snow -white - in the dark
also it is revealed again in the wood is lovely , dark and deep . Here he proves that the wood is the life and though the hard burdens and responsibilities of life , we stick to it and we dont want to get out of it .
ReplyDeleteThis poem is completely a symbolic one it tackles a very enjoyable theme. We have to read this poem figuratively. The image of the wood filling up with snow captivates us just as it captivated the speaker who saw in the solitude and peace of the woods an invitation to communion with nature, and to leave behind the weariness of life in this "darkest evening of year". Now, we can argue that the horse, with its questioning and bell shake is clearly employed by Frost as a dramatic device that makes clear the conflict within the poet's mind. Should he yield to the promise of an esthetic experience and stay or to the argue of the horse who finds no point in stopping in a house with no farmhouse or human's. the answer is clear, he has promises to keep. The poet has to forego his esthetic rapture to fulfill his commitments towards humanity in the forthcoming years "miles" which he has to pass before he dies "sleep".
ReplyDeleteI don't agree with you. Why you consider the falling of snow and the evening as a bad thing or "death"? Why you don't think that it's a good thing beauty or nature?
ReplyDeleteWho said I consider the snow a bad thing .What I said was " there is a contrast between the white snow = purity in the dark forest and evening . That shows death . I think if it is to indicate something it is to indicate he is confused .
ReplyDeleteKarlos4ever is Abdel Rahman
ReplyDeleteI can feel a person who is lost in the miseries and difficulties of life. And this feeling leads him to thinking of death as a relief which may appease his pains and his doleful heart. Though, the instinct of life is still stronger than death and encourages him to continue imagining that he has a future and something to fulfill; say promises…
ReplyDeleteHi every body this is the first time that i write my comment or be particibate in this web site . First of all iwant to thanks my lovely teacher D.Shwke Ganam because he makes me and helps me to love this subject and feel interesting in reading his book,and i wish to pass in the final exam and get high markes .
ReplyDeleteDo you know nael when i read the {stopping by wood} in the first time i found that this is a nice thing to talk about nature , snow , horse trees all these things have a wonderfull veiw but when i read it deaply i found the oppesite, that helps me to think more than one time to get the idea.
I respect your opinion EM_Waseem but WAS it really the opposite when you got its meaning ? I don't agree with you with that . When you know its deeper meaning it becomes more interesting and more affective . When you know the reflections of its clues , you get into his mode . You feel joy with what you read , because it is not a set of juxtaposed words about the nature
ReplyDeleteAlaa i liked your way of analysing such poet, but will you feel joyable when you read something about life obstacles ?
ReplyDeleteDo you joy something make us think of death ?
A good question Abdel Rahman . BUT I really enjoy reading such a wonderful piece of arts and feel more amused when - as I said - know what is beyond the meaning . Life obstacles is an issue that we have to deal with as much as we deal with other issues concerning patriotism , love , religion and others because poetry is not to be restricted to these issues . Moreover , A successful art DOESN'T depend on the issue , it would rather depend on the sentence structure , the pattern of sounds, imagery , ideas and the way it is WOVEN.
ReplyDeleteThanks
This is a beautiful poem that uses calming imagery to create a sense of peace and acceptance in death. He is accepting, but also recognizes his need to go on
ReplyDeletegood
ReplyDeleteThe author expressed his enjoyment in the natural view of snowing but he realized that these moments can not be spared and he was going to his destination , he felt that scene replenished his power to continue the journey of life ,and this is normal for human being to have time of relaxation to reduce his stress and charge him with energy to complete his way
ReplyDeleteIt is healthy to have purpose for your survival and meaningful existence otherwise life would be boring .the author reflected his self worth on his determination and commitment to keep promises. The cultural varieties are mirrored in the literature , if the author had no purpose for living then he would have committed suicide
If I got it right I may agree with the idea that the theme of "stopping by woods " reflects temptation of death and even suicide but not necessarily symbolized by the woods that are filling up with snow !! ….Alaa said some thing about (sentence structure , pattern of sounds , imagery, and ideas ) used in the poem ..these are the real symbols I guess that may actually reflect death or suicide . when I read the poem ..okay I can't just deny the whole thing about snow and darkness ,no but it's all about this person and his life including , responsibilities , promises, work issues .along journey that is waiting for him and this snowy wood was just a stop for him so that he can make a better life situations in the future …Why not! we all should have these moments of reviewing our positions in life…at the end whishes you the best away from death or suicide ..
ReplyDeleteNice ! Eman i really liked that specially
ReplyDelete" but not necessarily symbolized by the woods that are filling up with snow !! " A nother poem can be symbolized by the woods that are filling up with snow but still reflects the bright side of life i.e. a poet can symbolize snow to a happy journey showing how life will be pure or saying how it reflects the sky or describing it when it melts how it will be like dewdrops on green leaves .
Thanks
Amany , (and this is normal for human being to have time of relaxation to reduce his stress )
ReplyDeleteYour sentence means that he choose to get that time to relxe and when we choose the time of relaxation means that we have the time to be relxed, But it's the wood which stoped him and give him some moments to injoy the nature .
thanks
Stopping by woods is very interesting poem. when I read it for the first time, I like it & I think that the speaker talks about Nature. After reading it many times, I became to realize that there's something ambiguous, why someone write about nature use expression like frozen lake, darkest evening, dark & deep? then he's wondering if there's some mistake! I am assured that the speaker want to persuade us that he talk about nature but he talks about suicide.
ReplyDeleteLet's see the reason, as u see he's stuck with a big problem in life & can't find a way out, the darkest evening could be the darkest day in his life> when we see him wondering if there's some mistake, he's wondering if he's going to do the right or the wrong thing, I mean suicide. After that, the kindly sounding words such as" sweep, easy wind, downy flake" make it sounds sleepy as if he's tired & fed up with his life. Finally, we see changes with " but I've promises to keep, and miles to go before I sleep", he changed his mind because he realized he's important things in his life waits to be done & he'll die when God wants that, then he repeats the last line to make it seems even longer until he'll die. I think it's a religious part in the speaker because only people who believes in Allah can Know that suicide brings hi to hell.
" The stopping by" in the title is by the chance, I mean he was somewhere & stops by the chance. while he was walking & thinking of his life, suicide came up as an option before he thought it through properly & realized the consequences.
Glade you did Alaa ..and thanks for supporting my answer because that’s exactly what I meant ..as they say you hit the point missy
ReplyDeleteIn my opinoin,the outher feels lonely in this poem and he dosent enjoy his mundance existance the snowy woods reminds him of the end,and tempts him to suicide.
ReplyDeletealso its ametaphor for the after life,snow usually represents winter and purity.
the white snow in the dark woods its also gives the poem another element of contast.
In my view, the poet express a very special feeling of life. He walks in the woods, which may signify that he pursues his dream. During this process, he suddenly finds the beauty of the wood itself .He just stopped. But as a result of the dream he must realize, he could not stay there to enjoy the beauty and the stillness longer, he must continue his journey.
ReplyDeleteAnd in the end,
the "sleep" may symbol the eternal death,and
as everyone knows death is the "big sleep".
The repetition of “And miles to go before I sleep” at the end of the poem indicates that the speaker is now ready to continue his journey, both through the woods to reach his destination, and through the rest of his life.
i am agree with you ms.a.makdy he must realize he must could not stay there to enjoy the beauty and the stillness longer, he must continue his journey.
ReplyDeleteand he must not spend his time in a dream
No مروه he must stop there to make wonder to reader: why is he stopping?Doesn't he have better thing to do? Does he simply like the look of the snow falling? Is he responding to its beaty?
ReplyDeleteI'm with you Ms.A.Mahdy of that repetition which I understood that he will continue to live with whatever problems he faces.Doesn't that affirmation of life?
ReplyDeleteI loved it very much .And ,I think it very interesting poem.It describe the nature of life and includes a lot of difficulties ,responsibilities ,and hopes that we try to achieve it .And ,he said that everyone will die one day.It includes very significant meanings.
ReplyDeleteKarlos4ever: "how we can like a hard life?" Well, we are to like it, and some times even love it! To go on with life, we have to go over the hardships whatever & whenever they are. I believe that they enrich our life ... Otherwise, it would be almost boring living in absolute happiness. It, itself, comes after hard times; once we feel proud of ourselves after having gotover it. Then again... This's the life circle...
ReplyDeleteI loved the part when the poet says: "But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep"
I think it just emphacises my words ...
The first four lines are the key that unlocks the door to the meaning of this entire poem, with the important words being "though" and "his." The man in the sleigh believes he knows who is the property owner, the man this tract of woods belongs to. He also knows that if he is correct, the man won't be around tonight on a snowy, cold evening. The word "though" conveys that thought; the idea that someone in the village would never be out and about during such weather. The use of the phrase "to watch HIS woods fill up with snow" shows resentment, as if the man should not have the right to regulate who can stop and gaze upon his woods. It also implies that the man in the sled is jealous and probably poor and overburdened by his obligations.
ReplyDeleteIn this poem, the speaker has to make a decision about whether or not he should move on with his life. Frost used intense imagery in this poem to get the speaker's thoughts to the reader, and also to make the reader realize that the speaker is escaping from reality for a moment. In lines 9 and 10 the reader can tell that the horse and the speaker are connected in a way that both know that stopping without continuing would be a grave mistake. The horse realizes the hesitation in his rider as he stops in an area without any signs of a cabin or other life. It's as if he knows his rider is in a quandary and the shaking of his bells beings him back to reality - he must continue on with his mission in life.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion,night and darkess shows the end and snow makes it harder to pass as moon tears mentioned above. the poem that suicide its not just about taking a ride in the woods.Its called an extended metaphor . He says his horse must think it queer to stop without a farmhouse near so that explains alot and also the woods are lovely dark and deep .He stops by woods on this "darkest evening of the year" to watch them "fill up with snow," and lingers so long that his "little horse" shakes his harness bells "to ask if there is some mistake." The poet is put in mind of the "promises" he has to keep, of the miles he still must travel. We are not told, however, that the call of social responsibility proves stronger than the attraction of the woods, which are "lovely" as well as "dark and deep"; the poet and his horse have not moved on at the poem's end.
ReplyDeletein my opinion,this poem presents nature as standard of beauty that is so strong.the darkness of the woods is an idea so important that is mentioned twice in this poem,emphasizing aconnection between abeauty and mystery.the emphasison darkness is strange and more clear because the poem takesplace on snowy evening.
ReplyDeleteThis analysis is way of what Robert Frost was trying to convay.
ReplyDeleteTo say simply, it is about a man who is seduced by the thought of death but he has obligations to the human world. The poem does not end with the persona moving on from the woods.
The whole poem has a tone of tiredness and the iambic rhythem and form pulls the reader into almost a sleep. Although the last stansa breaks the rhyme pattern the repitition and sibilance still leaves in a trance like state.
This poem has much deeper meaning and this can be found through a much deeper analysis of the symbols and form used in the poem.
But this poem is deffinatly not about "wanting to enjoy the pleasures of life"
عبير صرصورIn my opinion, Frost is a great admirer of nature. They both use nature as a
ReplyDeletesubject in their works. Many of Frost’s poems are filled with natural
imagery. He expresses many of his emotions using imagery of nature. In the
poem, “Stopping by Woods in a Snowy Evening”, the speaker is attracted and
tempted by the beauty of nature. Even though he wants to stay longer in the
woods, he has responsibilities and other obligations he has to attend. It
is impossible for him to rest because he still has to travel. In the poem
Frost uses rhyming and rhythm. For example, he rhymes queer, near, and
year.