Robert Frost By Spencer Watts

Biography Born is 1874, San Francisco, California. Had many jobs including he taught Latin, textile mill…etc. Most of his poems came from his life's experiences and loneliness. In 1895 he married Elinor White… Most of his married life was spent in England. He was color blind. He always wanted to receive the Nobel Prize for literature.

Bio cont… At the age of 39 he published his first collection of poems…. In 1938 his wife died and later four of his six children died. Two committed suicide. In the later years he was lonely and depressed. He died on January 29, 1963. Considered one of the finest 20th century poets.

Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening Whose woods these are I think I know. His house is in the village, though; He will not see me stopping here To watch his woods fill up with snow. My little horse must think it queer To stop without a farmhouse near Between the woods and frozen lake The darkest evening of the year. He gives his harness bells a shake To ask if there is some mistake. The only other sound's the sweep Of easy wind and downy flake. The woods are lovely, dark and deep, But I have promises to keep, And miles to go before I sleep, And miles to go before I sleep.

Fire and Ice Some say the world will end in fire, Some say in ice. From what I've tasted of desire I hold with those who favor fire. But if it had to perish twice, I think I know enough of hate To say that for destruction ice Is also great And would suffice.

The Road not Taken Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, And sorry I could not travel both And be one traveler, long I stood And looked down one as far as I could To where it bent in the undergrowth; Then took the other, as just as fair, And having perhaps the better claim, Because it was grassy and wanted wear; Though as for that the passing there Had worn them really about the same, And both that morning equally lay In leaves no step had trodden black. Oh, I kept the first for another day! Yet knowing how way leads on to way, I doubted if I should ever come back. I shall be telling this with a sigh Somewhere ages and ages hence: Two roads diverged in a wood, and I- I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.

Good Hours I had for my winter evening walk-- No one at all with whom to talk, But I had the cottages in a row Up to their shining eyes in snow. And I thought I had the folk within: I had the sound of a violin; I had a glimpse through curtain laces Of youthful forms and youthful faces. I had such company outward bound. I went till there were no cottages found. I turned and repented, but coming back I saw no window but that was black. Over the snow my creaking feet Disturbed the slumbering village street Like profanation, by your leave, At ten o'clock of a winter eve.

Questions What do you think about the last stanza? (profanation means with contempt to god/ unholy). How does this poem make you feel? How can this title be tied into this poem?

Analysis Line 4 & 14, personification. Line 6, 7 & 13, imagery. 1st stanza, mood of loneliness. 1 and 2, 3 and 4, end rhyme. Setting, 10pm on a winter’s eve and on a village street. Theme, sadness/ loneliness.

Summary Good Hours by Robert Frost. In the first stanza of this poem, Frost is out for a walk alone and there is no one to talk to. It seems like he is making friends with the houses. In the second stanza of this poem, he is trying to glimpse into happy homes with music and children. In the third stanza of this poem, he is enjoying his walk and feels like he has had company all the way down the street. On his way back, I think he starts feeling lonely because everyone is turning their lights off for the night. In the last stanza of this poem, I think he feels like he is disturbing people and feels he is doing something bad or intruding.

Theme The theme of Good Hours is more of a feeling I get when reading this poem. I kind of feel sorry for him that he is alone. I feel like he wants to fit in or take part in the events going on inside the cottages. He seems to enjoy the walk, but when the street gets dark he goes back to his old, boring lonely life. The theme I found was loneliness.

Title and overall opinion The title seems to at first not connect to the poem, but as I read it a couple of times you get a feeling that the “good hours” are before 10pm. When he first goes for his walk the street is bright with lights and things are going on in each window as he passes by. He feels included in the happiness. After 10pm on his way back it is different and dark and he feels alone again. I enjoyed this poem because even though it is short, it contains a big message. Loneliness is all around us.

Bibliography Petri Liukkonen. “Robert Frost Biography.” 12 February 2010. <http://www.kirjasto.sci.fi/rfrost.htm> “Robert Frost poems and Biography.” 13 February 2010. <http://famouspoetsandpoems.com/poets/robert_frost/poems/531> “Image of Frost.” 13 February 2010. “Image of Frost.” 12 February 2010. <http://www.davedfekt.com/school/Dead%20Poet/images/rfrostyoung.jpg>