Stopping by the Woods on a Snowy Evening Questions

1.   List all the things that Frost sees. Rank them in the order that you would find them attractive.

-       The woods and frozen lake

-       Woods fill up with snow

-       Harness bells a shake

-       Sounds the sweep of easy wind and downy flake

-       The woods are lovely, dark and deep

-       His house is in the village

2.   What are the images and ideas that Frost reflects upon when he has stopped?

The imagery of beauty and the promises he has made to another are reflected upon when Frosts stops.

3.   Imagine that you are Frost. Write what you would say to your wife when you returned home from your journey.

I stopped by the woods, on the snowy evening. The beauty of serenity and desire for adventure found in those woods are irreplaceable. I sat there, just listening to my thoughts of life and adventure.

4.   Is there a deeper meaning to the poem? What do you think it is?

The poem describes the inner meaning of love for the little things that many people overlook because of their busy lives.

5.   Comment on the use of three poetic devices in the poem. (Especially the use of rhyming and repetition in the last line).

The repetition enhances the meaning of the poem, but the last two lines should be read differently. The rhyming of the first, second and fourth and lines of each stanza create a flowing effect. The use of rhyming and repetition enhance the meaning of the poem.

6.   The poem draws attention to two conflicting desires: the desire to be alone and to explore mysterious, challenging or even dangerous places, thoughts or objects, and the desire to a sociable person who responds to the company of others. Trace these ideas through the poem.

The idea of being social is presented in the second and fourth verses. The idea of stopping at a farmhouse and continuing through the night to visit another provides connection between the reader and the author.

The desire to be alone is underlying each stanza. The thoughts of being alone to listen to your thoughts and to have time to yourself to do things you want to do.

The desire to explore the woods is one, which is presented throughout the entire poem. In the first stanza, Frost is thinking of others, before the realization nobody will be able to see him. The third stanza repeats the first stanza, but includes the horse. The horse hasn’t done anything; it is just Frost’s imagination about what the horse would be thinking.

7.   What aspects of the journey are being emphasised?

The poem emphasises two aspects of the journey: adventure of the different environment where the woods are dark, deep and mysterious; the isolation of the woods, a place where personal reflection and being alone is easily accessible.

8.   Explain why this poem does or does not appeal to you. Justify your answer with quotes from the poem.

This poem appeals to me because sometimes, I do not want to talk to anybody. They seem to annoying or too protective of me when I talk to them. I prefer to sit alone and read a good book.

The sometimes-needed socialism is presented in the poem to appeal to everybody who has that special someone to talk to or even strangers to have a drink with.