Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening
Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening
Introduction of the poem
It is a lyrical poem included in New Hampshire. The poem was composed in 1923. It became popular in India since it was discovered on the table of Sri Jawaharlal Nehru after his death on 27 of May, 1964. The poem is beautiful and symbolical.
Summary of the Poem
The poem is the form of a dramatic monologue. it conveys a meditative speech of a country dweller. A solitary man is driving a horse cart in harsh weather in the New England countryside. He seems to be a farmer. The poem describes the thought process of this countryman. It shows the grimness and sadness that permeates both the world and the self.
The rider stops by the woods at night. he knows the owner of the wood. He knows that he lives in the village nearly. The woods are filled up with snow. The owner will not see him stopping here.
The rider’s horse feels uneasy. It does not understand why its master has stopped by frozen lake in such a dark night. The horse gives its harness bells a shake to tell its master that is not proper to stop here. He should, therefore, proceed on his way.
The rider is in a meditative mood. He is thinking about his own self and the world. He thinks that the world lovely and mysterious like these woods. We are often tempted by the world and ignore our duty. At the same time, reflecting on his own self, he remembers that he has got much more to do in life before he can take final rest. He cannot afford to rest until the work is completed. Liabilities have to be fulfilled before death finally claims us.
Explanations and Analysis
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Whose woods these……………..up with snow.
Reference to the Context- The stanza has been taken from the poem ‘Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening composed by Robert Frost. This poem is a record of the poet’s close observation of nature. He sees its sights and sounds. This is a symbolic poem.
Explanation- The traveler thinks he knows the holder of these lovely forests. Being a practical man of the world, the owner of those chooses to live in the village, in human society, away from the wild woodlands. He will not see the traveler stopping here to observe carefully the snow which was falling at the moment for a length of time.
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My little horse………….of the year.
Reference by the Context— These lines have been taken from the poem ‘Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening’ composed by Robert Frost. The traveller stops near a woodland. It was a very dark evening. The snow falling at the moment. He stops to admire the beauty of the snowfall over the woodlands.
Explanation- It appears strange and unusual to his sad horse that his master stops there. He expects him to stop near a farm-house. But he stops between the woods and the lake which is covered with ice. It is a cold winter evening. It is perhaps the darkest evening of the year. The traveller was travelling on the Christmas eve.
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He gives his harness bells…………wind and downy flake.
Reference to the Context- These lines have been taken from the poem ‘Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening composed by Robert Frost. The traveller says that his little horse may feel strange and unusual that his master stops there. He expects him to stop near a farm house and here beside the forest in the dark evening.
Explanation- The horse deliberately shakes its bells to produce a tinkling sound so as to draw the attention of its master. The horse meant it to be a query. It wished to find out whether its master has stopped there by mistake. To its animal mind, who is habitual of stopping at farm house, there seems to be no sense in stopping by the woods. The atmosphere is clam and quiet. Besides the tinkling sound of the bells, there is slight sound of the wind blowing with ease and that of the flakes of snow which are falling lightly like feathers.
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The woods are lovely……… miles to go before I sleep.
Reference to the Context— These lines have been taken from the poem ‘Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening’ composed by Robert Frost. The horse makes a query. It shakes its bells to draw the attention of his master if he has stopped there by mistake. The horse is accustomed to stop near the farm-house but he now stops beside the woods.
Explanation— The traveller says that the forest appears lovely to look at. It is however, a dense forest, and so it is ‘dark’ and ‘deep’. He likes to stay there to admire the beautiful scene. But he is conscious of his duty to the work-a-day world. He hurries on. He knows fully well that he has yet to cover a long distance before he could reach home and enjoy his sleep.
Comments- The last stanza of this poem has moved Pandit Nehru profoundly. On the morning of his death it was found scribbled on his writing desk.
English Literature— Important links
- “Background, Casually” -Line by Line Explanation (Stanza 1 to 7)
- “Background Casually” Line by Line Explanation (Stanza 8 to 15)
- Development of English poetry since the age of Shakespeare
- Important Forms of poetry in English (Narrative, Lyrical, Sonnet etc.)
- Sonnet 29- When, in disgrace with fortune (William Shakespeare)
- Baugmaree (By Toru Dutt)- Introduction, Summary, Analysis & Explanation
- GITANJALI Poem 11 (By Rabindranath Tagore)- Introduction & Summary
- Rabindranath Tagore as a Poet of Nature
- Sarojini Naidu as a Love poet / Love poems of Sarojini Naidu
- Sarojini Naidu as “Lyrical Poet” Or As a “Poet of Lyrics” or “Lyricist”
- “The Flute player of Brindaban”- Summary, Analysis & Explanation
- “Ode To a Nightingale” By John Keats- Stanza wise Summary
- Tintern Abbey- Line by Line Explanation (1 to 10 Context Stanza-wise)
- Absalom and Achitophel (John Dryden)- Introduction & Summary
- “Paradise Lost” (Lines 242-272) John Milton | Summary & Analysis
- “The Canonization” by John Donne- Summary & Line by line Explanation
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