Frost as a poet of the common man

Answer

Evaluate Frost as a poet of the common man.

Robert Frost (1874-1963) is a Pulitzer Prize-winning American poet. He is widely regarded as a poet of the common man, capturing the essence of everyday life. Frost’s poems depict the struggles and the emotions of ordinary people. His poetry is rooted in the landscapes and experiences of rural New England, where he lived for much of his life. Here we evaluate Robert Frost as a poet of the common man.

Focus on Everyday Life: Frost’s poetry often revolves around the daily lives of ordinary people. He writes about farmers, laborers, and villagers, presenting their routines, challenges, and interactions with nature. For example, in his poem “Mending Wall,” Frost describes two neighbors who meet each year to repair the stone wall that divides their properties. The speaker questions the necessity of the wall. The neighbor, however, insists that –

Good fences make good neighbors.

The poem highlights the simplicity of their task, yet it also delves into deeper themes of boundaries, tradition, and human relationships.

Use of Simple Language: One of the reasons Frost is considered a poet of the common man is his use of straightforward, accessible language. Unlike many poets of his time, Frost preferred to write in a way that was clear and easy to understand. His poems are often written in the voice of an ordinary person. For instance, in “The Death of the Hired Man,” Frost captures the conversation between a farmer, Warren, and his wife, Mary, as they discuss whether to allow an old farmhand to return to their farm. The dialogue is plain and direct, yet it conveys deep emotions and moral dilemmas. Through this simple, rural setting, Frost explores the meaning of “home”. Warren argues that home is about obligation and blood connection. Warren says:

Home is the place where, when you have to go there,

They have to take you in.

However, the poem ultimately agrees with Mary’s view that home is “something you somehow haven’t to deserve,” home is a freely given and loving gift.

Themes of Work and Struggle: Frost often explores themes related to work, struggle, and the challenges of the rural life of the common man. In “After Apple-Picking,” the speaker reflects on the exhaustion that comes after a long day of harvesting apples. It is a task that is both physically and mentally draining. The speaker says,

For I have had too much

Of apple-picking: I am overtired

Of the great harvest I myself desired.

The poem captures the weariness that comes with hard work, a feeling that many people can relate to.

Connection to Nature: Nature plays a significant role in Frost’s poetry. He often uses it as a backdrop for exploring the lives and emotions of ordinary people. In “Birches,” for example, Frost imagines a boy swinging on birch trees. He uses this simple, natural activity as a metaphor for the desire to escape the burdens of adult life. 

So was I once myself a swinger of birches.

And so I dream of going back to be.

The connection between the common man and nature is a recurring theme in Frost’s work.

In conclusion, Robert Frost’s poetry speaks to the experiences, emotions, and challenges of the common man. Frost’s ability to find profound significance in the ordinary and to elevate the lives of common people to the realm of poetry is what makes him one of the most beloved poets in American literature.