poetry texts, poem archive at plagiarist.com

There has been more ink wasted on this poem than any other in the Frost canon. Sure, there is a darkness here, and it can evoke suicide, but the poem isn't about suicide, it's about the disconnect between man and his fellow man, and our subordination of an understanding of our fellows to our agenda. The poem is about other people and our difficulties in walking in their shoes. You can't escape this in the very first line.

The poem starts out about someone else, someone we are not sure we know, "Whose woods these are I THINK i know," and goes on to point out that this other will not know the narrator is here. The two people have knowledge of each other, but it is superficial.

So sure, there is a loneliness, a longing for quietude that bespeaks death, but it springs from our inability to know, absolutely, whose woods these are, and the other's inability to know we are here, and why. Perhaps the most beautiful poetic irony lies here: a poem about our limitations to know one another, about the shortcomings of words and our penchant for subordinating our personal agenda to the task of understanding our neighbor's woods, is routinely interpreted to be a paean to voluntary death. Perhaps we know the poet least of all.

Bottom line, this is not one of Frost's best poems, and it is probably his most misread. On the surface it is pretty, and there is more underneath, but there are many better, and much of the criticism of this poem is in my view bankrupt.

i think that this poemis about a dying man. he is taking his journey of life. he feels he is growing weeker as time goes on. as he rest in these woods (that are not really woods but a metaphor for his comfortable place) he wants to give up but his love and devotion(the horse) wont let him and he realizes that he has promiss to keep and miles to go before he sleeps. he keeps on moving and lives the rest of his life not ever letting go until the day he finally is taken from the world.

I think the poem is the transition period between life and death. I strongly empathize with the poet. He is waiting his last day on this earth, which is vey close. The poet is expressing what man is experiencing during this period, but he is struggling death to keep his promises before he passes away. This is natural in our life. One has to arrange a number of matters when he feels death is approaching.

In my opinion of the poem, I think the story doesn't talk about death. I have read this poem three times and I think its about a person who just wanted to relax in the middle of the woods, and snow. He can because he has a "promise to keep" so he can enjoy the site, and relax untill the promis is keeped.

what a beautiful poem!! a very meaningful and unique poem.. it touches the heart of many people.

I think this poem is indeed that, a poem. I like others think you can analyse things to the ground until they are reduced to just words on a page. I think that more important than the person's true meaning behind it is what the poem speaks to you. And so because there are billions of people in this world who have different life stories and personalities that make them who they are there are that many interpretations of it because whatever that poem spoke to them is where there heart was at, at the time.

hey people,
this is great that u guys are thinkging abt this poem so much. but i was extremely dissapointed by knowing that many of us think that the poem was about the poet thinking of suiside.
well, i have to do an assessment on physical journeys and need to relate it with the drama away by michael gow. can anyone help me to find the aspects of physical journey in this and how the poet changes due to it?

thats all afterwards.
this is the best poem i have ever read. this leaves the readers witrh a sense of reflection.. reflect on your life, your deeds when you are away from the materialistic world. the nature is the only place where one can find solace and peace. poet also finds peace in the woods althought they are harsh due to the cold. thus i love u frost and nature.
thats all i wanted to say.
thanks,
vaishali.

The poem is full of decision making because the poet has decided not to stay back looking at the temptations of the lovely, dark and deep forests. But to move on to complete his goal. To finish his responsibilities before his eternal sleep.

this poem is beautiful and a subtle description of a man wanting to relax and finally give in to the forces of death, but feels guilty as he has soo much he's promised ot do. the help of the snow and the compelling tranquility make a realisation that he can finally relax and unkowingly, yet willingly he can leave the world and go to a peaceful heaven. it's a peaceful and almost enjoyable parting as it feels much like falling asleep.

This poem is about irrational thinking. It reflects the choices that you'll have to make everyday, such as stopping by the woods or continuing home. He doesnt choose what is right instead chooces what he would prefer to do such as stop and admire his surroundings. He then realises that he should continue home as he has adequatley taken in his surroundings.