Charis Mathew

Mrs. Brown

American Literature

P5

Born in San Francisco, California, he lived in Massachusetts with his grandparents after his father passed away. He studied hard and shared valedictorian honors in high school with his crush Elinor White.

Throughout the following years, Robert wrote in weekly journals and printed his first poem “My Butterfly, An Elegy.”

But after marrying Elinor and leaving school, Robert struggled financially supporting his family, and the loss 5 of his 6 children who died young.

Giving up on Harvard, he moved to New England where he got more recognition for his works.

Robert Frost took his inspiration from his family history. Being originally a New Englander, Frost used themes, setting, and imagery of New England as a basis for his writing.

All of Frost’s poems have very similar qualities. They mention lifelong decisions, looking back in life, relaxing places, and the desire to die and come back to Earth later. They also all use nature as a key way to describe these themes.

His poems portray his personal experiences and feelings figuratively to bring a deeper meaning that all people can relate to.

Frost had a hard life. At the start of his life, the death of his father at the age of ten, and his health issues at the end of his life.

The terrifying events of his life were a basis for his poems. The poems channeled his stressful life, and fears.
For example in the poem “Once by the Pacific,” he wrote about his fear of the ocean as a child due to trauma of being left there multiple times during a storm.

All his works even benefited himself, as they helped him conquer problems and his writing skills. He truly lived his poems.

Robert continuously struggled with making his dreams come true.

From a young age, Robert excelled in school, but after college life really changed. Attending both Harvard and Dartmouth College, he dropped out of both for personal reasons(health).

He tried many jobs, writing poems, and even moving, but it was going nowhere. Robert had trouble financially and as a school teacher as only got payed $500 a year.
He decided to move to England in hope for change. After meeting many authors there, at the age of around 40, his work finally became appreciated and recognized.

After moving to England, Frost’s was able to have many friendships. Frost grew close with modern British poets like Edward Thomas, Rupert Brooke, and Robert Graves. Many friends including his friend Ezra Pound, helped promote his work.

He took his friendships and loyalty seriously. Every person perfectly fit into his life in a special way.

For example, Charles R. Green, a Librarian at The Jones Library, was the first fan and collector of Robert’s works. Charles helped Robert by publishing good bibliographies of his writings.

Later Frost wrote many poems about friendship like the most known, “A Time to Talk.” It mentions the importance of making time for a friend in the busyness of life.

One of Robert Frost most well know poems is, “The Road Not Taken.” The poem sold millions and is still well known in American literature and for its use in media.

The origin of the poem came from a joke to Robert’s writer friend Edward Thomas. After long walks together, Thomas always regretting the path they choose. In response, Thomas missed the joke and thought it was a wonderful poem.

The poem is straightforward and deep, capturing readers in it’s thought provoking lines. It addresses that life is made of a lot of choices which determine the future. The desire for happiness, adventure, and success, but also the conflict of choosing a different path than others.

Robert Frost expanded our knowledge to the depth and beauty of poems in our own life.

His life shows the amazing result of using imagination and following dreams.

Writing many poems, he received 4 Pulitzer Prizes and the Bollingen Prize. He also earned the office as Poet Laureate in the Library of Congress, and in 1962 was given the Congressional Gold Medal. Frost also recited a poem at the inauguration of President John F. Kennedy.

At the end of his life, he taught at many colleges & universities and ultimately imprinted himself into the world for others to learn and be inspired.

A quote from Robert Frost’s poem called, “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening,” says “The woods are lovely, dark, and deep. But I have to keep and miles to go before I sleep.” This quote addresses the responsibilities a person has in life that can’t be ignored. Sometimes we desire to stay in beautiful moments, but when life moves we have to go along and do our best to fulfill our part in the world.

The amazing thing is Robert Frost embraces his life calling and did his best to fulfill his grand purpose in life. The choice to live each day to the fullest can help us impact our society, the world and even ourselves.

This question fits Robert Frost’s because many of his poems address important lessons in life that influence the future and others.

One key way he does this is by writing poems that are connected to the real world unlike other poets. He personally was able to find himself in nature and life rather than the use of artificial descriptions.

Like Frost, people can influence others by first showing their individuality, and being confident in themselves. Taking advantage of all opportunities and especially relationships with other people. By pursuing dreams and having integrity, people can leave a positive image that others look up to.