By:Robert Frost

Background Info Written in 1913 Published in his poetry book named ‘A Boy’s Will” Frost actually wrote this poems as an apology to his wife and was ment to remind her of a moment they shared as kids. Poem describes a brook named Hayla Brook that was found near Frosts home on Derry Farm.

Summary Two children head out to fetch water from a nearby brook because the well by their house was dry. While heading out to do their chore they find a way to make it fun. They played little kid games and pretended they were playing hide and seek with the moon until they heard the sound of the brook and followed it. Once they got there they admired how pretty it was. Tone: Playful

Examples of Literary Devices Hyperbole (line 9): They did not literally run to the moon. It is used to show how happy they are at the moment that they are playing and not thinking about fetching water being a chore. Its like when your happy your able to do anything

Lit. devices continued Alliteration (line 13) and Simile (line 14): “But once between the woods we paused like gnomes that hid us from the moon,” The repetition of the “W” sound helps to set the playful tone of the poem. They compare themselves to gnomes to empathizes that while they are having fun, there is this magical quality that allows them to do anything. As they play hide and seek with the moon, all they have to do is stand still to not be seen.

How we connect to the poem When we are younger our imaginations are more wild so we are able to appreciate the smaller things in life like how bright the moon is and how pretty running water can be. “a note as from a single place, a slender tinkling fall that made Now drops that floated on the pool Like pearls, and now a single blade.” Children are innocent.

What does love have to do with it? Theme: children's innocence. Shift at line 17: “Each laid on other a staying hand.” When they think they heard the brook they both stopped and became very quiet all while holding hands. This could emphasize a change in emotions between the two children because there was never any contact previously in the poem. ( and it was written for his wife.)

Resources