Elements of Simplicity in Frost’s Poems

          Frost's poetry mainly reflects life in rural New England, and the language he used was the uncomplicated speech of that region. Although Frost concentrates on ordinary subject matter, he evokes a wide range of emotions, and his poems often shift dramatically from humorous tones to tragic ones. Much of his poetry is concerned with how people interact with their environment, and though he saw the beauty of nature, he also saw its potential dangers. His poems deal with the wisdom of simplicity, wisdom of common people that come out from their daily experiences.

Frost’s poetry can be divided into three general kinds of poems: lyric poems, long verse poems, and philosophical poems. These three kinds or genres often overlap, so that not every Frost poem can be assigned definitely to one genre alone. Generally speaking, however, Frost’s lyrics are usually short poems, divided into stanzas or written in sonnet form, about country things: animals, plants weather, the seasons, and etc. Frost’s narratives are longer poems, usually written in blank verse, again about country people and country situations; these can be thought of as short stories or one act plays in poetry. The third kind of poem Frost wrote is more difficult to define:

“Stopping by woods on a Snowy Evening” sounds like a simple description by the driver of sleigh, with close observation of rather simple actions and facts. But part of the poem’s reputation is due to the deeper meanings suggested by these simple verses: “The woods are lovely, dark and deep, /But I have promise to keep” in which a great deal is said about responsibility in only a few words.

According to Cecil Dew Lewis, the simplicity of Frost’s poetry “is the simplicity not of nature but of a serious and profoundly critical spirit”. In Frost’s poems, one often finds layer of meaning. But even one fails to grasp the deeper significance, he is still satisfied with the surface meaning:

“Fire and Ice”, a lyric poem, looks simple but not simple at all. Though it is simple because of the talking tone and its structure, the apparent simplicity of “Fire and Ice” is deceptive. It is not so much that this nine line poem is incredibly complex in its theme, but that it is so compellingly profound in its wisdom. In fact, its very simplicity is important: its theme is basic in its simplicity, and thus it is very deep. The first two lines present the main images and the main viewpoints developed in the poem: “Some say the world will end in fire, /Some say in ice”. These things are important for they are the two generally held views concerning the ultimate fate of earth. The speaker considers the age-old question of whether the world will end in fire or in ice. This is similar to another age-old question: whether it would be preferable to freeze to death or burn to death. The speaker determines that either option would achieve its purpose sufficiently well. He juxtaposes the ideas- love sustains and binds but destroys also. In this poem “Fire” represents not only love which binds lives but also an uncontrollable desire, a kind of love, which can destroy. “Ice” represents hatred. For destruction it is also great. 

At least part of Robert Lee Frost’s reputation as a poet of “simplicity” derives from the metrical tools he selects. Opening a copy of the Complete Poems at random pages, the average reader gains two solid impressions. The poems are preponderantly short, seldom running from one page to another. Also, the verses are composed in brief forms, the quatrain appearing briefly, along with numerous stanzas only slightly longer. Exceptions appear notably in the longer blank verse pieces, but they do not alter the dominant impression of brevity, hence simplicity.

Though the “Death of the Hired Man” is a long verse poem it deals with a very familiar scene of rural structure. As a longer verse poem it should have imposing themes but Frost always deals with the wisdom of simplicity, wisdom of common people that come out from their daily experiences. The themes that are present in this poem are life as well as death, family and friendship, “Home” and belonging. One of the themes can be explained:

Life and Death

The sense of death is set when Mary says "he has come home to die: / you needn't be afraid he'll leave you this time" and the couple starts to reminisce of Silas's life and the things that he used to do. The poem also shows how Silas lived and how he celebrated his life by doing the things that he wanted to do instead of doing what other people wanted him to do. This is evident when they are talking about Silas's brother "Silas is what he is -- we wouldn't mind him--/But just the kind that kinsfolk can't abide."

The ending of the poem also shows the impact of death, as Warren silently sits besides Mary and he only gives a one-word answer of “Dead”. This emphasizes the impact of Silas death and what it means to the couple. The candor of his reaction gives a feeling of grief and disbelief.

Frost’s images-woods, stars, houses, brooks-are usually taken from everyday life. He wrote poetry with common speech, direct expression, folksy candor, and steadfast adherence to rhyme meter, and other formal issues. He showed a strong liking for traditional versification or old fashioned simplicity. He composed his poetry, to use Wordsworth’s memorable phrase, in “the language really used by men”. His poetry is clear, straightforward, and often, nevertheless, tender and poignant. In his style he is traditional-he has compared writing free verse to playing tennis with the net down-but in his subjects he is original, obtaining his most marked effects obliquely by writing about seemingly trivial subjects or moments or situations. Close observation of everyday things is turned into poetry by Frost, and through his poetry-lyric, narrative, and philosophical-little, unnoticed things come to life. He demands of his readers the effort to recognize these things as he has, but he leaves them implicit in his poems as they are in reality.

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