Robert Frost's Poetry: Symbolism, Imagery, and Meaning

Introduction: Frost as America's Poet

Robert Frost is America's poet. Living a life dedicated to poetry, Frost wrote some of the best and most admired verse in American literature. Frost is famous because his poetry reads well — it seems simple, but there is always something else going on if one takes the time to look. Frost is also known for utilizing the literary techniques of metaphor, symbolism, and imagery. "The Road Not Taken," "Stopping by Woods," and "Design" are poems that demonstrate Frost's technique as both a poet and a thinker. Frost crafts poetry that allows us to see and feel, and if we take the time, we will also realize that he almost always carries an underlying message that deals with the greater issues of life.

Symbolism in 'The Road Not Taken'

Frost is no stranger to symbolism. In his famous poem "The Road Not Taken," the most powerful illustration of symbolism is the roads themselves. The roads are symbols for the choices we face during our lives. That the poet renders life's choices as roads is significant because we travel through life much as we travel down roads, and we seldom have the option of a "do over." Once we decide to do something, we must live with the consequences of that choice — be they good or bad. We cannot simply turn back and start over from the beginning. The poet acknowledges this when he admits, "Yet knowing how way leads on to way, / I doubted if I should ever come back" (lines 14–15). Knowing that a choice cannot be taken back should give the poet — and us — reason to pause and think before we act.

Another literary technique Frost employs in his poetry is imagery, often combined with simile. In "Design," we see powerful imagery alongside clear examples of simile. The poet presents us with the image of a larger purpose operating within the small, self-contained world of a country plant. The image of a stronger force at work in this little world illustrates the poet's ability to see beyond what is immediately visible.

Imagery and Simile in 'Design'

Our first image is that of the "dimpled spider" (line 1) holding a moth whose wings are described as a "white piece of rigid satin cloth" (line 3), perched on a curiously white heal-all that should be blue. While we can picture this scene almost perfectly, we cannot help but sense the ultimate image of death lurking behind it. To reinforce this, the poet refers to the three subjects of his observation as "characters of death and blight" (line 4). Simile appears when the poet tells us that these subjects are like "the ingredients of a witches' broth" (line 6) and that the moth will eventually become "dead wings carried like a paper kite" (line 8).

This poem confronts the issue of death and the afterlife, shrouded in the seemingly trivial death of a moth. Here we see how Frost uses elements of nature to focus on larger issues in life. By deliberately centering attention on something many people would overlook, the narrator makes a pointed argument: if there is a design to anything, it must also govern the smallest of events.

Conclusion: Frost's Enduring Legacy

Robert Frost is considered one of America's most renowned poets because of his accessible style. While his poems read well and seem to be about simple things, we can always find another layer of meaning if we look long enough. Frost's ability to capture large aspects of life in very small events is only one reason why he remains one of literature's most beloved poets. His poems are laced with issues we encounter almost every day, lending them an enduring relevance. In addition, Frost is respected for his craft — he was a master at creating captivating images and was highly skilled in utilizing literary techniques such as symbolism, metaphor, and simile.