Copyright © Watson Educational Services, Inc., 2006 All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, or by any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. For information, please write Smarr Publishers, 4917 High Falls Road—Suite 201, Jackson, Georgia 30233 or call (678) 774–8374.

Dover Publications ISBN 0-486-27550-7 is compatible with the study guide.

$9.95 IN USA

Smarr PublishersSmarr PublishersSmarr Publishers

English English English for for for

Classical StudiesClassical StudiesClassical Studies

A Student’s Companion toA Student’s Companion toA Student’s Companion to Selected Poems ofSelected Poems ofSelected Poems of

Robert FrostRobert FrostRobert Frost by Robert W. Watsonby Robert W. Watsonby Robert W. Watson

Selected Poems of Robert Frost / 1

Introduction to Selected Poems of Robert Frost

C ONSIDERED by critics to be the most popular poet in the 20th century, Robert Frost was awarded a Congressional gold medal for his contribution of poetry

throughout the world. Of the modern poets, Robert Frost is one of the few that teaches through his poetry. Ezra Pound and Archibald MacLeish influenced upcoming poets when they relegated meaning not in ideas, but in physical objects. As for any form, such restrictions were secondary concerns. In his “Ars Poetica,” MacLeish states, “A poem should not mean / But be.” Therefore, poetry is a thing in itself with no other purpose except for “being.”

On the other hand, Frost believed that a poem “begins in delight and ends in wisdom.” Thus, America’s most popular modern poet sees a didactic role for his poetry. In addition to this, while most modern poets now follow Walt Whitman’s lead with free verse, Frost used traditional forms like the sonnet and blank verse to present what seems to be quaint pictures of life in New England. Reportedly, regarding the use of blank verse, Frost stated that it is like playing tennis without a net. However, even though appearing to be merely poems about nature, Frost’s poetry is deceptively complex. His writing about nature is merely the setting. Frost’s main focus centers on relationships between human beings with their common reflections and experiences. Therefore, in spite of the regional settings of the poems, Frost writes for everyone, since the issues addressed are timeless and recognize no geographical boundaries.

Not only was his poetry complex, but so was the poet as well. To the outside world, Frost portrayed a paternal figure whose wisdom was forged by country living. However, Frost lived a bitter personal life marked by tragedy. Two of his daughters suffered mental breakdowns and his son, Carol, committed suicide. Even though he had been the only American poet to win four Pulitzer prizes, and even though he was awarded about forty honorary degrees from colleges in both the United States and England, Frost died a resentful man for never being awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature, for which he imagined that he had been purposely shunned. This disillusionment coupled with other perceived ill-will fed his bouts with depression.

At the age of 86, Frost was invited to offer a poem at the inauguration of President John F. Kennedy in 1961. Whether because of his age, the bitter cold, or the sun shining in his eyes, Frost stopped reading his prepared poem, “Dedication,” and began reciting from memory “The Gift Outright,” which he called “a history book in a poem.” His recitation of both brilliant and moving. In 1963, Robert Frost died and was buried at the Old Cemetery in Bennington, Vermont. Upon the gravestone is engraved, “I had a lover's quarrel with the world.” His death ended that quarrel.

Nevertheless, the poetry of Robert Frost represents America with a neighborly goodness that many of us have experienced from time to time. Do not read Frost’s poetry too quickly. Read his verse several times, and you will be rewarded for the extra effort. ROBERT W. WATSON

2 / Selected Poems of Robert Frost

Selected Poems of Robert Frost Lesson One

1.1 Vocabulary

diverge v. dally v. pell-mell adv. knoll n. 1.2 Vocabulary Exercise: Circle the synonym that agrees with the first word.

1. diverge join branch out disclose

2. dally flirt work play

3. pell-mell helter-skelter viciously orderly

4. knoll shore dock hill 1.3 Reading Assignment: The Road Not Taken and Other Poems, pp. 1–12 1.4 Recall Questions

1. In “The Road Not Taken,” how does the poet know that the one road had “the better claim”?

2. In “Christmas Trees,” what two values are in conflict?

3. What price would the narrator receive per tree if he had sold the trees?

4. In “An Old Man’s Winter Night,” how does the poet personify the cellar?

5. What is the meaning of “his snow upon the roof”?

6. What is the lesson in “An Old Man’s Winter Night”?

7. In “A Patch of Old Snow,” what is the patch compared to?

8. In the poem, “In the Home Stretch,” what seems to be conspicuously absent from the view of the kitchen window?

9. What was the reason for the woman wanting the workmen to return to the house?

10. In “The Telephone,” what is the “telephone”?

Selected Poems of Robert Frost / 3

1.5 Critical Thinking

In “The Road Not Taken,” are the final two lines logical? Discuss whether anyone can determine the outcome of choices even when looking back in time.

What are some choices in the life of the Christian? Consider for an example Psalm 32:8, Isaiah 30:21, and John 16.13.

In “An Old Man’s Winter Night,” discuss the contrasts of light and darkness, and order and chaos.

In “An Old Man’s Winter Night,” explain how the poem reveals that the best mankind can do in life is cope with its surroundings.

In the poem, “In the Home Stretch,” discuss the tension between city and rural life.

In “The Telephone,” explain how the man knew that he was being called.

4 / Selected Poems of Robert Frost

Selected Poems of Robert Frost Lesson Two

2.1 Vocabulary

hyla n. dauntless adj. bracken n. ineffectual adj. 2.2 Vocabulary Exercise: Circle the synonym that agrees with the first word.

1. hyla reed frog tree

2. dauntless imperfect disorganized brave

3. bracken fern limb sled

4. ineffectual profitable uncertain worthless 2.3 Reading Assignment: The Road Not Taken and Other Poems, pp. 13–24 2.4 Recall Questions

1. In “Meeting and Passing,” where was the speaker standing when he sees his beloved?

2. According to the poet in “Hyla Brook,” how should we love things?

3. In “The Oven Bird,” what does the singing of the bird tell us?

4. In “Bond and Free,” what is Sirius? (Use a dictionary or an encyclopedia)

5. In “Birches,” how does the poet show how humans strain the limits of nature?

6. According to the poet, even though we may reach towards heaven, what eventually happens?

7. The last line in “Birches” is an understatement. Why?

8. In “Pea Brush,” what is the meaning of “They might be good for garden things”?

9. In “Putting In the Seed,” what imagery is found in “smooth bean and wrinkled pea”?

10. In “A Time to Talk,” what seems to be more important than working with nature?

Selected Poems of Robert Frost / 5

11. In “An Encounter,” why is the poet sorry he left the road?

12. In “Range-Finding,” what does the following refer to? “O’ernight ’twixt mullein stalks a wheel of thread / And straining cables wet with silver dew.”

13. In “The Hill Wife,” why do the returning occupants of the cabin leave the door open before lighting the lamp?

14. To whom does the “smile” refer to?

2.5 Critical Thinking

In “Meeting and Passing,” discuss how the speaker and his beloved become one soul.

In “Bond and Free,” compare and contrast Love and Thought.

In “Birches,” compare and contrast the elements in the poem that are reality and fantasy.

In “Birches,” is the escape from reality permanent? Why or why not?

In “The Hill Wife,” discuss the progression of the wife’s seduction. What does the Bible teach regarding the role of the husband in marriage? Of the wife’s?

6 / Selected Poems of Robert Frost

Selected Poems of Robert Frost Lesson Three

3.1 Vocabulary

miscellany n. willy-nilly adj. din n. grist n. 3.2 Vocabulary Exercise: Circle the synonym that agrees with the first word.

1. miscellany livestock collection cart

2. willy-nilly hilarious respected haphazard

3. din lair noise garbage

4. grist sawdust grain chaff 3.3 Reading Assignment: The Road Not Taken and Other Poems, pp. 24–36 3.4 Recall Questions

1. In “The Bonfire,” why does the young man want to start a bonfire?

2. How does the young man argue that war is for children also?

3. In “A Girl’s Garden,” what is the only thing the girl does not have to plant?

4. In “The Exposed Nest,” what task occupied the children in the meadow?

5. What concern does the narrator have concerning their task?

6. In “Out, Out—,” why does the young boy let out a “rueful laugh”?

7. In “Brown’s Decent,” after sliding down a hill of ice, how does Brown get back home?

8. In “The Gum-Gatherer,” what mainly concerns “lumber folk”?

9. In “The Line-Gang,” what are the “dead trees” for the living ones that were cut down?

10. In “The Vanishing Red,” what does the miller do to John?

Selected Poems of Robert Frost / 7

3.5 Critical Thinking

In “The Bonfire,” explain how the bonfire is a symbol for war.

In “The Bonfire,” discuss how fear in small things prepares one for the larger fears in life.

In “The Exposed Nest,” discuss how humans interfere with nature.

In “Out, Out—,” discuss what surprising elements Frost uses in the poem.

In “The Gum-Gatherer,” explain how the last six line are sarcastic.

Explain the multiple meanings of the title, “The Vanishing Red.”

8 / Selected Poems of Robert Frost

Selected Poems of Robert Frost Lesson Four

4.1 Vocabulary

access n. dishevel v. sanctimonious adj. scalawag n. 4.2 Vocabulary Exercise: Circle the synonym that agrees with the first word.

1. access outburst limitation revival

2. dishevel dig loose repent

3. sanctimonious holy self-righteous communistic

4. scalawag frigate fish bait miscreant 4.3 Reading Assignment: The Road Not Taken and Other Poems, pp. 36–49 4.4 Recall Questions

1. In “Snow,” what is Mr. Meserve’s vocation?

2. Why does Mr. Meserve stop at the Coles’ house?

3. Why was Mr. Meserve out in the snow storm?

4. What did the Coles hope that Mr. Meserve would not talk about?

5. After Mrs. Meserve forgets to hang up the telephone, what do the Coles hear over the line?

6. According to the poet in “The Sound of the Trees,” what does he do often when he watches the trees swaying?

7. What is the meaning of “But I shall be gone”?

4.5 Critical Thinking

In “Snow,” analyze the characters of Mr. and Mrs. Cole.

In “Snow,” explain the symbolism of the journey through the snow storm by Meserve.

Selected Poems of Robert Frost / 9

Poetry Supplement 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.

 The Gift Outright

The land was ours before we were the land's. She was our land more than a hundred years Before we were her people. She was ours In Massachusetts, in Virginia. But we were England's, still colonials, Possessing what we still were unpossessed by, Possessed by what we now no more possessed. Something we were withholding made us weak. Until we found out that it was ourselves We were withholding from our land of living, And forthwith found salvation in surrender. Such as we were we gave ourselves outright (The deed of gift was many deeds of war) To the land vaguely realizing westward, But still unstoried, artless, unenhanced, Such as she was, such as she would become.

 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.

10 / Selected Poems of Robert Frost

Glossary for Selected Poems of Robert Frost

access (²k“sμs) n. An outburst or onset; a passage; the act of approaching bracken (br²k“…n) n. A widespread weedy fern often forming dense thickets dally (d²l“¶) v. To play amorously; flirt dauntless (dônt“l¹s) adj. Incapable of being intimidated or discouraged; fearless din (d¹n) n. A jumble of loud, usually discordant sounds; noise dishevel (d¹-shμv“…l) v. To loosen and let fall hair or clothing in disarray; to throw into disorder diverge (d¹-vûrj“) v. To go in different directions from a common point; branch out; to differ, as

in opinion or manner; to depart from a set course or norm; deviate rist (gr¹st) n. Grain or a quantity of grain for grinding; ground grain hyla (hº“l…) n. A large tree frog ineffectual (¹n”¹-fμk“ch›-…l) adj. Insufficient to produce a desired effect; useless; worthless knoll (n½l) n. A small rounded hill or mound; a hillock miscellany (m¹s“…-l³”n¶) n. A collection of various items, parts, or ingredients, especially one

composed of diverse literary works; a publication containing various literary works pell-mell (pμl“mμl“) adv. In a jumbled, confused manner; helter-skelter; in frantic, disorderly

haste; headlong sanctimonious (s²ngk”t…-m½“n¶-…s) adj. Feigning piety or righteousness scalawag (sk²l“…-w²g”) n. A reprobate; a rascal; originally, a white Southerner working for or

supporting the federal government during Reconstruction willy-nilly (w¹l”¶-n¹l“¶) adj. Occurring whether desired or not; disordered; haphazard

Selected Poems of Robert Frost Vocabulary Quiz

Instructions: Match the word with its definition. A. access B.bracken C. dally D. dauntless E. din F. dishevel G. diverge H. grist I. hyla J. ineffectual K. knoll L. miscellany M. pell-mell N. sanctimonious O. scalawag P. willy-nilly 1. _____ to play amorously; flirt

2. _____ to loosen hair or clothing in disarray; to throw into disorder

3. _____ a reprobate; a rascal

4. _____ a passage; an outburst or onset

5. _____ to go in different directions from a common point; deviate

6. _____ grain or a quantity of grain for grinding; ground grain

7. _____ feigning piety or righteousness

8. _____ a widespread weedy fern often forming dense thickets

9. _____ insufficient to produce a desired effect; useless; worthless

10. _____ incapable of being intimidated or discouraged; fearless

11. _____ a collection of diverse literary works

12. _____ in a jumbled, confused manner; helter-skelter; in disorderly haste

13. _____ a small rounded hill or mound; a hillock

14. _____ a large tree frog

15. _____ a jumble of loud, usually discordant sounds; noise

16. _____ occurring whether desired or not; disordered; haphazard

1

Selected Poetry of Robert Frost Vocabulary Exercise, Lesson 1 1. branch out 2. flirt 3. helter-skelter 4. hill Lesson 1 1. The road was grassy and not worn. 2. The two values are commercialism and unspoiled nature. 3. The narrator would have received only $.03 per tree. 4. The cellar is given the quality of fright. 5. This expression can be taken literally, or it can refer to the old man’s head. 6. The best that people can do is cope with life. 7. The patch of snow is compared to a newspaper. 8. Most views from kitchen windows have children playing. 9. She want to have her stove set up. 10. The telephone is a flower. Vocabulary Exercise, Lesson 2 1. frog 2. brave 3. fern 4. worthless Lesson 2 1. The speaker is standing by a gate. 2. We should love things for their own sake. 3. The singing announces that life is now beginning to diminish with the approach of death. 4. Sirius is the brightest star in the sky; also called the Dog Star. 5. He shows this limit by humans being able to bend a birch tree, but the tree will straighten

itself again. 6. We return to earth. 7. The expression is understated because one can escape reality by using more harmful and

dangerous methods than swinging on birch trees. 8. The birch branches will be useful for the pea vines to cling as the vines grow. 9. The imagery affects the sense of touch.(and sight to a slight degree). 10. It is more important to develop human relationships. 11. He had difficulty going through a swamp of cedar. 12. This expression refers to a spider’s web. 13. The opened door connects the outside darkness with the inside darkness. 14. The smile comes from a stranger to whom the speaker gave some bread.

2

Vocabulary Exercise, Lesson 3 1. collection 2. haphazard 3. noise 4. grain Lesson 3 1. He wants to be frightened by the fire. 2. Children are killed in war because they are on ships that torpedoed and in towns that are

bombed. 3. The girl does not plant any weeds since they need no cultivation. 4. They covered the top of a bird’s nest so that the young birds would receive too much light. 5. He feared that the mother bird would not be able to find her young birds again because of

the change in landscape. 6. The boy cut off his hand while sawing firewood. 7. Brown walks along the road back to his house, even though the way was several miles. 8. People who live in the woods are mostly concerned about forest fires. 9. The dead trees are the poles used to string the wire. 10. The miller pushes John through a manhole where below was the turning wheel; perhaps

John was killed. Vocabulary Exercise, Lesson 4 1. outburst 2. loose 3. self-righteous 4. miscreant Lesson 4 1. Mr. Meserve is a preacher. 2. His horses were tired and need a rest from the journey home. 3. He had a preaching engagement. 4. They hoped that Meserve would not bring up the subject of religion. 5. They hear a clock, a silence, and a baby crying. 6. The poet often sways with the trees. 7. More than likely, the poet is speaking about his death.

Robert Frost

Vocab Quiz

1. C 2. F 3. O 4. C 5. G 6. H 7. N 8. B 9. J 10. D 11. L 12. M 13. K 14. I 15. E 16. P