Thursday, September 13, 2007

Robert Frost's Poem of the Week


Hey everyone,

Today we will finally take a look into a piece written by our poet of the week, Robert Frost.
Let us take a moment to read the poem of the week and watch out for any literary features, for example, rhyme scheme, alliteration, irony, etc. From the examples that you have, you can compare them at the end with my commentary.
So let us get started and I hope that you enjoy this particular poem I chose:

Good Hours

by:Robert Frost



I had for my winter evening walk--
No one at all with whom to talk,
But I had the cottages in a row
Up to their shining eyes in snow.

And I thought I had the folk within:
I had the sound of a violin;
I had a glimpse through curtain laces
Of youthful forms and youthful faces.

I had such company outward bound.
I went till there were no cottages found.
I turned and repented, but coming back
I saw no window but that was black.

Over the snow my creaking feet
Disturbed the slumbering village street
Like profanation, by your leave,
At ten o'clock of a winter eve.


What did you all think?

Robert Frost is a writer that many people can enjoy and sometimes relate to. It is simple to understand, with many literary features in just a few lines. He goes straight into the point, taking us into his thoughts, hopes and dreams.
Did you notice anything of each first two and second two phrases of each stanza? I am sure you noticed that the last word of a phrase was followed by a rhyme in the last word of the phrase that followed.
Each stanza is simply four lines, however each line was enough to indulge us into wanting to know more.
Let us look at the first stanza, he gives us a lonely image of the protagonist (main character,) as he is alone. However, a sudden tint of metaphor is used when he describes the cottages, which could be what he sees in 'covered in snow.' The use of 'Up to their shining eyes,' could give a slight use of humor, however in the literal form could it be the windows of the cottage that are really shinning? Suddenly, sound interrupts what was once mere silence, a violin. This instrument takes us back through time, it creates a happy atmosphere as the character also begins to think of young images he saw between 'curtain laces,' which could have been the shades or curtains that he was actually looking through. The violin seems to have lifted up the spirit of the sad character.
He continues to say that he had friends or what he exactly said, 'company,' far away. He gives us the idea that he wanted to walk in the direction of finding them in their houses or cottage so as to seek them. However, there were no houses, hence no friends in sight. A he turns back the color imagery that was once whit, formed by the snow, is soon 'black.' This could be how he feels, through the black image.
He continues to walk back as his feet crack, which could show how they are frozen creating a crackling sound. Finally, the last line explains that it is winter eve, where snow is and the clearness of the land should create happiness, however in truth he is not happy; for he is alone.

Now, take a moment to look back at your notes (I hope you did comment on the poem before reading my commentary,) just to check if we came up with similar ideas. If not, please post other ideas that you may have come up with... I can't wait to hear from you! Read more!

Monday, September 10, 2007

Robert Frost's Poem Review update

Hey everyone!

I just wanted to let everyone know that the Robert Frost poem review will be coming out maximum Thursday evening!

I apologize for the delay.

In the meantime i would love to see what other poet everyone would want me to write about next week.

Thank you...


Read more!