Robert Frost 1874-1963

Frost’s Childhood Frost was born in San Francisco on March 26, 1874

When he was 11, his father died and his mother moved the family to Massachusetts Frost attended high school in Lawrence, Massachusetts

Frost’s Adulthood Frost entered Dartmouth College, but remained less than one semester. Returning to Massachusetts, he taught school, worked in a mill, wrote for a newspaper, and worked on a farm.

During his spare time, he wrote poetry and dreamed of someday being able to support himself by writing alone. His first professional poem, "The Butterfly," was published on November 8, 1894. Frost was 20 years old.

A year later he married Elinor White, with whom he had shared valedictorian honors at Lawrence (Mass.) High School. From 1897 to 1899 he attended Harvard College as a special student but left without a degree.

Over the next ten years he wrote (but rarely published) poems, operated a farm in Derry, New Hampshire (purchased for him by his grandfather), and supplemented his income by teaching at Derry's Pinkerton Academy. Frost Farm, 1911

England In 1912, at the age of 38, he sold the farm and used the proceeds to take his family to England, where he could devote himself entirely to writing. His efforts to establish himself and his work were immediately successful.

Triumphant Return Because of World War I, the Frosts sailed for the United States in February 1915 and landed in New York City.

He published two books which enabled Frost to buy a farm in New Hampshire. He then went on to publish more poetry and books. Frost had a long career of writing, teaching, and lecturing. Frost and son Carol 1916

In 1924 he received a Pulitzer Prize in poetry. Over the years he received an unprecedented number and range of literary, academic, and public honors.

More Accolades Frost became the country’s most beloved poet. He received formal congratulations from the U.S. Senate when he turned 75, and again a decade later.

In January 1961 Frost read his poem The Gift Outright at the inauguration of President John F. Kennedy When he died 3 years later, people around the world mourned.

The Pasture I’m going out to clean the pasture spring; I’ll only stop to rake leaves away (And wait to watch the water clear, I may) I sha’n’t be gone long. - You come too. I’m going out to fetch the little calf That’s standing by the mother. It’s so young It totters when she licks it with her tongue.

The Pasture Robert Frost used this poem to introduce his poetry. On the surface Frost invites the reader to come out to the pasture with him, but Frost also asks the reader to come into his world.