17 pages • 34 minutes read
Stopping By Woods On A Snowy Evening
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Themes
Societal Obligation
A major theme in the poem is the tension between the speaker’s desire and their responsibilities. This is seen most clearly in the immortalized final stanza, particularly “But I have promises to keep” (Line 14). It’s not clear whether this is a literal promise or simply a promise to themself to uphold their responsibilities; however, this stanza represents a simple and accessible universality that makes this poem resonate with readers across generations. There is likely no one of any age or culture who doesn’t understand the feeling of setting aside a pleasurable pastime to return to mental or physical labor. Despite the soft drama and the ominous tone of the poem, the moment in its purest form is one many will relate to.
Though the “promises” of the poem are not explored in depth, the juxtaposition of responsibility against the natural world suggests a social obligation. The way the poem is bookended with an awareness of the outside world—first by considering the landlord, away in a nearby village, and then by looking forward in time—illustrates the idea that these woods cannot exist alongside those responsibilities at the same time. Therefore, the speaker is forced into a choice between the solace of the dark woods and the world beyond them.
By highlighting this choice, the poet suggests a discord between the impositions of community and the tranquility of the natural world. This poem teaches the value of balance and unity within the self, even when faced with timeless societal obligations that unveil all.
The Natural World
“Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening” is a celebration of the natural world, putting it in direct opposition with the oppression of everyday life. The poem opens by examining a question of ownership: “Whose woods these are I think I know” (Line 1). However, the ownership of the woods is arbitrary. When the speaker stops, it’s between two natural landmarks: “Between the woods and frozen lake” (Line 7); this suggests that the boundaries of nature matter more than boundaries inflicted by law. As the speaker stops to take in the beauty of the surrounding landscape, the question of ownership becomes superfluous.
While the poem opens with a sense of motion, most of it rests within a single moment: The speaker steps briefly away from their responsibilities to appreciate the tranquility of the snowy woods. The poem’s rich, sensory imagery works to support this moment and immerse the reader in the beauty of the woods. This relationship is particularly present in the line “The woods are lovely, dark and deep” (Line 13), which was contested by Frost’s editor; the line can still be found in two different versions today. The editor wanted to include an Oxford comma, which would make it “lovely, dark, and deep.” However, Frost argued that this single punctuation mark would change the meaning of the poem—each adjective is in addition to the others, rather than compounded by them. The way Frost has it written, “dark and deep” are used to describe what is lovely about the woods.
As the poem comes to a close, the speaker is forced to choose between remaining in the woods or moving forward to where their life is waiting. Their hesitation suggests that life is set up in such a way that there must be a choice, that a person can only have one or the other within a single moment. The poem teaches the importance of taking time to stop and appreciate the stillness and quiet of the natural world.
Life and Death
In its literal form, the poem is about a person on a horse passing through snowy woods on their way home. However, the image can become a metaphor for a place between life and death, and the choice to remain in one or the other. Many scholars believe “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening” reveals suicidal tendencies of the poet—the allure of the dark woods fading to white against the obligation of the world beyond them. Frost and many of his loved ones lived with mental illnesses throughout their lives, and the poem might suggest the temptation to lay down the struggle of living to find peace.
The silence of the woods gives a sense of being in a place between worlds. Although the text explains that the speaker’s surroundings are cold through words like “snow” (Line 4) and “frozen” (Line 7), the feeling conveyed is closer to one of comfort. They describe the snow as “downy flake” (Line 12), suggesting warm blankets and a soft bed. These images combine to create a setting that’s both cold and welcoming—a final resting place. Despite the temptation of the woods, however, the speaker knows they yet have “miles to go” (Lines 15, 16) before their time comes.
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By Robert Frost
