TROY MARTIN · 17 August 2000

this is my favorite poem. I always imagine the beautiful woods with the snow falling from the sky. I admire the man for thinking of his obligations when the lovely woods is so tempting. I can always see the horse in my mind giving his harness bells a shake.

Kydd Neal · 28 July 2002

Mr Frost, writing on snow… visits the mood of silent cold and slewed time rather acutely.
For here the seasons of life move as winter shadows us - times wake leaves in its path the more of nothingness… for snow, as life, melts away. And only few of us realise that someone is watching….

Mslibertyjr · 23 November 2002

I love this poem. This is my favorite out of all poems. I can relate to it and love to review it especially when hard troubles set in my life. I am a journalist and write some things as to what Robert Frost wrote. That poem always touches me deeply to not give up but to move on for there are things still to be done. Thanks for displaying his poem, I have been searching for it for quite some time now and have finally found it.

Thanks again,

Karen A.

Carolee Marano · 31 January 2003

Rhyming “sleep” with “sleep” is NOT without design in this poem, and in fact, it is the resonating power of it. It is the repetition of this line, “and miles to go before I sleep,” bringing us to the conclusion of the poem, that awakens in us, who are so inclined to feel it, a strong identification with the profound power of our resignated acceptance of our responsibilities - our responsibilty to trudge on, our responsibility to live. In this sense, the poem is more about life than death. It is melancholy, evocative, true, and beautiful.

Dep8vn · 14 April 2003

This poem is a favorite of mine and I think it nice that you have a website for it. Thanks!

Frank Rogers · 28 April 2003

Dear Sir or Madam,
This profound poem is about our lost connection with the natural world. Our ego bound activities take over our entire adult life. No time to appreciate the natural world. No time for activities that have no specific reason to admire nature. Even the horse senses there is something wrong with stopping in these woods because the horse is trained by humans. “…promises to keep..” is the abiding theme of all of our lives as urban dwellers and it is very, very sad. Frank Rogers

KStiles19 · 10 June 2003

Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening in a great example of poetry. It is good for all ages. The first 4 lines are my favorite! Matt Stiles (14)

Rhonda · 15 June 2003

This is a very evocative poem and has haunted me for a number of years as I had only heard the the last verse. It has taken me a long time to look it up and now that I have the rest of the poem is not a disappointment. It seems to be about the hypnotically-deep, quiet, draw of dark nature over the responsibility of human busyiness of everyday living. Of being lost in wonder stareing at a blade of grass.

William Mino · 15 July 2003

This is one of my favorite poems. Debbie Mino

Deceptivedevices · 26 July 2003

Hello my name is Elaine and I stumbled across this website referring to Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening and was wondering if u could help me with finding a website that dealt with critical analysis of this piece by Robert Frost.. Any kind of links would help me immensely.. Thanks so much
Love on ya
Elaine

Hotfema · 29 July 2003

this poem has always reminded me of that old song, the boys of summer. times is fleeting, blah, blah blah. my comments dont matter.

Herder Leland -AES · 11 August 2003

I’ve always loved this poem and “The Road
Not Taken”. I have both Frost poems committed to memory.

I also love Simon & Garfunkel’s version of the same sentiment: that we should all slow
down and smell the coffee or appreciate those intangible, minute things in life, like the beauty of a snow-filled woods, and not let the stresses and tangible problems of life get us down. In their song, “The 59th Street Bridge Song…
Feelin’ Groovy”, the man is faced with the
same situation, only in Frost’s poem, the man DOES realize that he “has promises to keep”,
and moves on to his business dealings in the
city…“before he can sleep”.

DuffManOohYa · 7 October 2003

elaine-you had a post asking people if they had any links to a website on the critical analysis of the poem stopping by the woods on a snowy evening by robert frost….i was wondering if you ever got any websites and if you did could you send them to me? any site would be helpful thanks

Umama Saleem · 28 October 2003

i like it, its my fav. from all the ones comeing in my test n need help my e-mail address is if any of u cud help me plz do send me smthg with the subject of woods amina

Elena Filipova · 3 November 2003

this poem is about santa claus!!

Missy03185 · 10 November 2003

did youever find the critical analysis of stopping by the woods on a snowy evening

terryken · 18 November 2003

This is my all-time favorite poem. There is nothing more magical than being out in the woods at night with snowflakes cascading down on you. I recently visited New Hampshire and got to visit Robert Frost’s home and walk through his woods. It was magical to be right where he used to be!

Jason Pope · 3 December 2003

Robert Frost’s poem is actually about a gentleman contemplating suicide. The first image of the blanket of snow, the death shroud, covering everything invokes the reader into participating in the speaker’s unnoticed and unseen death. Why would you want someone there to stop you if you really were going to do that? The horse notices something’s wrong and that it’s only the speaker and himself. The speaker is struggling with this choice, stuck between a rock and a hard place, or in this case; between the woods and the frozen pond. Naturally, this all takes place on the darkest day of the year; the winter solstice, december 21st, the darkest day in his life, his sadness, his isolation. and his depression are the greatest. So, in the third stanza, we see the conflict of should I do it or not. The horse, his friend, his reason, the connection back to civilization and life, is signaling to the speaker as if saying, “hey, let’s get the hell out of here. This isn’t what you want to do, is it? This is a mistake. Let’s go.” Meanwhile, the speaker is hearing this, but is also seeing how nice the wind is and how it could blow away all his worries and woes. The downy flakes would cover it all up and he’d never have to worry about it again. However, in the end, the speaker realizes that although death, the dark and deep woods covered in snow, would be an answer to his problems; it’s not his answer. He has promises to keep. He does actually have a connection to the life he wants to ax and therefore decides to keep journeying on. He has many things still to do. He has many miles to go before he sleeps.

If you were still looking for a critical analysis.

cheers.

Jason Pope · 3 December 2003

Robert Frost’s poem is actually about a gentleman contemplating suicide. The first image of the blanket of snow, the death shroud, covering everything invokes the reader into participating in the speaker’s unnoticed and unseen death. Why would you want someone there to stop you if you really were going to do that? The horse notices something’s wrong and that it’s only the speaker and himself. The speaker is struggling with this choice, stuck between a rock and a hard place, or in this case; between the woods and the frozen pond. Naturally, this all takes place on the darkest day of the year; the winter solstice, december 21st, the darkest day in his life, his sadness, his isolation. and his depression are the greatest. So, in the third stanza, we see the conflict of should I do it or not. The horse, his friend, his reason, the connection back to civilization and life, is signaling to the speaker as if saying, “hey, let’s get the hell out of here. This isn’t what you want to do, is it? This is a mistake. Let’s go.” Meanwhile, the speaker is hearing this, but is also seeing how nice the wind is and how it could blow away all his worries and woes. The downy flakes would cover it all up and he’d never have to worry about it again. However, in the end, the speaker realizes that although death, the dark and deep woods covered in snow, would be an answer to his problems; it’s not his answer. He has promises to keep. He does actually have a connection to the life he wants to ax and therefore decides to keep journeying on. He has many things still to do. He has many miles to go before he sleeps.

Zhao Lin · 8 December 2003

It is really a very good poem. It was in the last summer school break that i got to know it. A good friend on line said it was the only poem he could remember as a result of his college education and he recited it for me word by word. I was a little bit touched at that moment. And right now i am in my universuty as a freshman. i am not quite accustomed to the life here in this atrange city. Though almost half a year has already passed, i still think about the past good days a lot. And yesterday that friend called me to say he was thinking of me and could not help being lonely sometimes cuz he was always travelling on his own. He has been to many beautiful cities but had no one to share it with. I thought of that poem right after his call. So i recited it right away. HE WILL NOT SEE ME STOPPING HERE/ TO WATCH HIS WOODS FILL UP WITH SNOW. Anyway, i still believe that since life seems to be too short for us to enjoy its happiness, why not cheer up to face all the difficulties lying ahead? Since we cannot change them, why not accept them willingly? It will be good for us to forget all the pains and sorrow and to live as our own wishes, to get our own happiness. As soon as you have made clear what you want in this short life, you can set out for the future to come, no matter how dark or snowy the night may be.

Michael Pederson · 18 December 2003

It seems Elena gets it. For the rest, it seems we are too profound sometimes for our own good.

Autumn Metzger · 31 December 2003

An english teacher of mine once had a girl in her class. This girl’s relative once had Frost himself visit their school for an assembly. Someone asked him about this poem, and he said that it was about one night when his wife asked him to go get groceries and nothing more. He ended up stopping on the way home to watch the snow falling, but he knew his wife would get angry if he was much later since he had miles to go before he reached home.

Steve · 6 January 2004

Are you “Thee” Carolee Marano formerly of Staten Island? If so, Happy New Year!

reblind · 14 January 2004

From: “Kydd, Neal” <NKydd@>
Mr Frost, writing on snow… visits the mood of silent cold and slewed time rather acutely.
For here the seasons of life move as winter shadows us - times wake leaves in its path the more of nothingness… for snow, as life, melts away. And only few of us realise that someone is watching….

“For here the seasons of life move as winter shadows us - times wake leaves in its path the more of nothingness… for snow, as life, melts away. And only few of us realize that someone is watching…”

You posted that onto a page with “Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening” by Robert Frost. I think that that is one of the best things I’ve ever read. Did you write that? Or was it something else of Frost’s that I simply don’t know about?

Steve

Ltnftw03 · 4 April 2004

Does anyone know what the significance of winter in this poem is?

KidzCowGrl · 9 April 2004

thanks for that analysis. it seems right on!
-just jenn

Julmarria · 14 April 2004

I do not believe that robert frost was at all thinking of committing suicide. I believe that life had taken its toll on him just as it does us all after a lifetime of living. If you ever read ‘A Swinger of Birches,’ then you will realize that he was only weary of decisions ‘so was I once a swinger of birches . And I so I dream of going back to be.It’s when I’m weary of considerations.’ He wanted to return to the carelessness that defines childhood, not die- ‘may no fate willfully misunderstand me and half grant my wish and snatch me away not to return.’ You just have to read the poem because ‘one could do worse than to be a swinger of birches.’

- Julmarria (17)

Andy del Castillo · 5 May 2004

Clearly he’s trespassing. Get your stupid horse and your sorry ass off the village guy’s property and cheer up will ya? Ahh, who cares anyway…

Andrés del Castillo
Director, Business Development
GAPC

14 Colonnade Rd. Suite 180
Ottawa, Ontario
K2E 7Mx 241
www.gapc.com

Amy Scott · 9 August 2004

I bought this poem in a children’s book picture format (illustrated by Susan Jeffers) for my daughter when she was born since we had the first big snowfall of the year that night. We read it almost every – including tonight. I was very taken back when I saw on a list of love poems that it was about “suicide”. I never once thought of it meaning that. I did some quick searching and found your site which presented both views. I was glad to read many of your comments that it is not about suicide. There are lines in it that I never thought much about…and I think I will keep it that way. As for the rest of it – what is more wonderful then snowshoeing in the mountains as the snow is falling and when there is no one else around? I am anxious to share this with my daughter and I am glad that for now I have Frost to help us share the experience! To me it is the most peaceful moment on earth!

alecia · 8 September 2004

I believe the “he” in this poem is the owner of the woods… “who’s woods these are I think I know”… who won’t see him trespassing because he lives in the village. I THINK. Maybe it has some God- connection… I don’t know what I’m talking about.

<33

Preston Beach · 22 September 2004

Hi, my name is Preston and I am a poet. I, like the famed teacher in “Dead Poet Society,” hate the over-analysis of poetry, though I love discussion of it. All the Pritchards of the world to the trash can, I say!

I love Frost’s poems because they are him, and they are New England. There is something that stands aloof yet humble in Frost’s writing, as if to say “Interpret as you wish; but this is my experience: you are a visitor in the library of my thoughts.”

I don’t like it when people “rewrite” what I have penned (read Ray Bradbury’s “afterward and coda” from Fahrenheit 451). Be moved, be inspired, be appalled, but be silent. Don’t speak for the writing of others…let it speak to you. Otherwise, what’s the point? Dissecting living things kills them.

stewart · 2 October 2004

i came upon this site by chance, and after reading the listeners, which has to be one of my favourites, i read for the first time “stopping by the woods”,as it had been mentioned by others in thier comments. Firstly i would like to say thank to you for introducing me to this lovely poem, but secondly i would like to agree with one comment that said we over analyse poems. I would much rather think of frost writing this after he had shopped for his wife, and being so taken by the beautiful sight of the woods covered in snow, than seeing a man contemplating suicide. can we not see these poems for the beauty the words give us and not keep looking for hidden messages? when i was a child the listeners were a “host of phantoms” haunting a now empty house, and the traveller had visited the house when he was in the area after promising to do so maybe years before. it was frightening and creepy which made it great to a child being introduded to poetry by my mother. Can’t we just leave it there, instead of trying to see something deep and meaningful?
thank you for the site i will now use it often.

Kannappan · 11 October 2004

This is a beautiful poem that appeared in my tenth Standard matriculation English here in India. To this day I remember that lovely Woods are lovely, dark and deep line.

Peter Boliszczuk · 17 October 2004

Hi there
An interesting site. I have loved this poem since I first read it. I am in my mid fifties and have worked hard all of my life. I feel I am the man in the poem. I lead a life I do not particularly care for. Middle class north American. I am not so much thinking of ending it all but would just like to stop and wander in the woods for a while. BUT, I have miles to go and promises to keep Peter

John Brooks CMC · 27 October 2004

Re: “Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening” - This is one of the most beautiful and touching poems in the English language. It is a delight to read so many different reactions to it. Great poetry has no objective existence in and of itself - it’s greatness lies in it’s being a mirror of the Universal in the human soul, and thus we may each find ourselves in it. I find also interesting the report that Frost told a school class that it was simply about getting groceries. Elsewhere, he said the poem “contains everything I know about life.” I agree that his poems may be read on many levels. For those who may wish to go beyond the surface levels of Frost (New England nature scenes, politics, etc.) I suggest you look for the thread that runs through his poems “Reluctance”, “The Tuft of Flowers”, “Birches”, “Happiness Makes Up in Height for What It Lacks in Depth”, “Acquainted with the Night”, “Bereft”, “The Master Speed”, “All Revelation”, “One More Brevity”, and “Stopping By Woods”. And there are other gems. As revealed in his poetry, I find Frost a man of deep mystical experience and metaphorical largess, without alignment to any particular theology. - John Brooks

Iain Marin · 29 October 2004

I think that it is also important to emphasise the two last lines in the third verse. “easy wind” and, more crucially, “DOWNY flake” suggest the sleepy atmosphere that occurs in this part of the poem. The character wants to sleep - or is it more? A doctor could give you a detailed interpretation of this poem - during the initiall stages of hypothermia we may feel happy, outgoing, or alternatively sleepy, sad. It is possible that the charcter is feeling the effects of the cold. This leaves us with two possibilities - 1) that he is only sleepy (and suicidal) due to the cold, or 2) that he has a desire to commit suicide regardless of the cold. Indeed, this last idea seems more acceptable, since the poem goes on to say “but I have promises to keep.” This shows us that he has been considering either sleep or death. The last two lines also mirror this - the first one “and miles to go before i sleep” has the meaning that he has a great distance to travel before he gets home. The second bit, the repetition, has the meaning that he does not want to stop his life for a good long while. So, to people that are dissapointed by the revelation of the possible connotations os suicide, i actually find this poem quite uplifting - he has shrugged off suicide and is going to continue life.

Tmathew541 · 6 November 2004

Well, I am supposed to write an essay on this poem and when I read all the comments on this website I got confused. Some people said it was about the man about to commit suicide. Some people take it as a very peaceful area where this man is just there. Me? I have a feeling that this man is wondering about his journey through life. He might be wondering what might happen after 6 or 10 years from now. I know you can interpret a poem into many meanings, but I have to connect it to a book called the Outsiders. Please help if you can, thanks. ~Cheerfulhelper909

Peasedsc · 22 November 2004

I have never read this poem, but I am on this web site looking for the author, which is obviously Rboert Frost. My teacher Mrs. L. Elliott AMS gives me and my class door trivia, which is a trivia question each week and the question, of course, hangs on the door. This week it was about you. Which poet wrote “Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening”? And I found my answer! Thanks!!!!!

Don Prisby · 30 November 2004

Thank you all for your insightful commentaries. I believe this poem is about the universal human struggle between the desire to slow down and notice the beauty in a moment - and the inclination, obligation and natural tendency to be about our tasks. Frost represents this battle metaphorically in the traveler and his horse. The traveler himself is surprised, if not challenged at the call to slow down and observe the beauty around him. The horse is trained to keep moving and has an innate tendency to trod forward. In the end, the traveler sadly realizes that as much as he would like to, (“The woods are lovely dark and deep”) he cannot slow down. He must move forward (“but I have promises to keep. And miles to go..).

I have had the good fortune of composing music for this poem which further illustrates the struggle described herein.

Donald E. Prisby, Jr.

Incentric Marketingphonemobilefacsimile

Andrew Gratton · 21 January 2005

thank you for your opinion on the poem…i actually used it on critical analysis paper i had to do for one of my college classes! thanks again

leftwithoutlight · 25 January 2005

In Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening, Frost again uses his ingenious symbolism. Here, the woods represent his life line. He stops in the middle of the woods. He stops to think about his life and everything that’s been going on. His horse thinks it odd to stop with no farmhouse near because the horse knows that if they don’t find shelter, they will eventually die from the cold. The darkest evening, of course, representing a day of death. The horse shakes his harness bells to alert that it is indeed cold outside, and if they stay out much longer, they will die. He ignores the horse. I believe this part of the poem is symbolic of him contemplating suicide. He’s thinking about going to the frozen lake. The last stanza is crucial in this poem. In it, Frost states that life is long and full of beauty, and even though he’d like to stay and die, we all have things in life that must be done. He says it’s not his time yet. He has unfinished business to do in this life, and he can’t give up on it until he’s finished. He repeats the last line to stress how important it is.

-Matt Maxwell

HottChickSammy2 · 25 January 2005

hey i realy like that poem stopping by woods on a snowy evening if u could send me some more of his poems .
thanks samantha

BillEhlers · 27 January 2005

Perhaps the most beautiful line of the poem is “These woods are lovely, dark and deep,” I love this soft and gentle poem. I am a doctor and imagine the person watching the woods fill up with snow is a doctor returning from visiting a patient, beckoned by the peace and diversion of the woods, but knowing he has obligations.

Jeff Cooper · 3 February 2005

he’s thinking about suicide

Jerry Smith · 11 February 2005

Bill,

I’m a career English teacher and I, too, have always imagined the speaker to be a doctor in a rural area–going here to deliver Mrs. Abbot’s baby, there to set Billy Jacob’s arm, there to check on Mary’s elevated temperature and stop her, hopefully, short of pneumonia. A doctor
would have the education and sensibiility to appreciate the beauty and tranquility of the scene, but feel the obligation to fulfill his “promises” to his patients and travel the many miles before arriving at home late and exhausted. I’m certain that a lot of rural GP’s from the past could certainly relate to the dichotomy in this poem.

Jerry Smith
The Shelton School
Dallas, Texas

kdcatsbearchaser · 16 March 2005

I HAVE BEEN TIRED AND IN PAIN BEFORE; AS HAVE MANY. I HAVE LEARNED TO STOP AND “suck it up”; as did the rider on a dark snowy night. he longed for rest and peace of mind-but life happens while having a pity party. The world has more than enough cynics. Quit berating Frost’s rhyming, etc., and appreciate one of the most beautiful lines ever written. It would be a great line to say aloud every morning for inspriation to keep going. Many miles to go—-the miles can add up to a great distance with this attitude. I hope all of you can keep going-my best thoughts for you.

Tamara Francis · 14 May 2005

if you think about this poem in another way it can be quite rude… think of the woods as being a woman…“whose woods are these i think i no” “he will no see me stopping here to see his woods fill up with SNOW” sorry i dont mean to be crass but someone pointed tha out to me and i thought id share…apply it through out the whole poem and it will become clear

Colin Day · 24 May 2005

Perhaps the most beautiful line of the poem is “These woods are lovely, dark and deep,” I love this soft and gentle poem. I am a doctor and imagine the person watching the woods fill up with snow is a doctor returning from visiting a patient, beckoned by the peace and diversion of the woods, but knowing he has obligations.

Funny you should say that, but I always imagined a Doctor on his way to visit a patient. Perhaps to deliver a baby…

My favourite poem.

Greetings from (Old) England

Colin Day

Annaviacar · 12 June 2005

Your explanation of Frost’s poem was great, “Stoping by Woods on a Snowy Evening.” Makes sense to me. He just stopped by on his way to the store. He knew who the woods belonged to. A friend of mine thought that meant just the outside world, the owner of the woods. I think that’s probably true.

A beautiful poem.

Thanks.

Oanh Pham · 27 June 2005

In my opinion, Frost referred to the call of nature: all are born to die eventually. The horse represents survival instinct to always win or should win over the death instinct. The struggle is always there and beautifully embodied and illustrated.

OPham.

Mark Currie · 28 June 2005

Not about suicide. Man is doctor or minister. He cares for others and is worn out. But he will continue to live for others and meet his obligations, not succumbing to the temptations of rest, knowing his eternal rests waits further down the road.

Lewis Wedlake · 6 July 2005

its gay

Dr. Joan Breuer-McHam · 1 August 2005

“The woods are lovely,dark, and deep.
And I have promises to keep.
And I have promises to keep.”

These words are so applicable to starting my new life, I quoted them in the Dedication page of my Dissertation.

Joan Breuer, Ph.D.

Erick Kelemen · 22 August 2005

Trying on Pants on a Snowy Evening

Whose pants these are, I think I know,
His house is in the village, though.
He will not see me stopping here
To try his pants on in the snow.

My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near,
Between the woods and frozen lake,
The coldest evening of the year.

He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound’s the sweep
Of wool against my trouser snake.

The pants fit lovely through my seat,
But do not reach quite to my feet,
And I don’t have a sales receipt,
And I don’t have a sales receipt.

omacbeth · 1 September 2005

It’s amazing how all of these people can be exactly right in their thoughts.

cboerner · 7 September 2005

I find this elegant use of vowels & consonants delicious, as my mouth waters while my visual takes over. My mind’s eye that is, & I see his comfort in knowing he will die, just as all things do. Yet, he has made commitments, so he must not tarry, no he must not tarry. Poor neighbor, how could one be so blind as to not yearn to look upon that field, the lake, the dark of the eve with downy flake? Ahhh, this must be what heaven will be like…..Thank you for allowing me to share… Cathy

Imran Jiva · 24 September 2005

i am reading this poem to my child

he is asking lots of questions,
ive got a beautifly illustarted version

can some one tell on a basic level, what this poem is about? who is the person travelling?
where is he going ?
who does he visit ?
what ddoes he give them?

these are some of the questions being asked my child, for whichi cant give musch answers

Amber Love · 11 October 2005

i love this peom we had to memorize it in sixth grade and i loved it now it also made me wright poems to my freinds tell me there good but im not sure i guess i have to wait untill im older

Kevin Grimes · 9 November 2005

My favorite interpretation is that the guy is Santa Claus and his “little horse” is a reindeer and it is otherwise a very busy evening for the speaker.

Jan Byron Wooten · 18 November 2005

Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar. -Sigmund Freud Hmmm … no one has said anything about how lyrical this poem is. Just listen and sit like the Buddha. Nothing else is needed. :-) Jahn

Lisa · 20 November 2005

This is one of the best poems i have ever read. i believe that it is means that poeple should
try to stop every once in awhile to watch life not just let it go by without knowing it.
Kimberly Simmons age 16

Robert Wyss · 26 November 2005

Has anyone ever considered a parallel between Frost’s reflective moment in the woods on a snowy evening and Dante’s famous “nel mezzo del camin…” (In the middle of life’s journey, I found myself in a dark wood, having lost my way…)? I would not suggest that Frost made a conscious attempt to evoke Dante in his poem, but merely the possibility that at a certain time in his life Frost similarly felt compelled to deeply reconsider the meaning and purpose of his life. Perhaps finding oneself in the deep and dark woods activates an archetype, best expressed by poets, to which all of us can relate as we near our life’s halfway mark.

liz · 27 November 2005

I feel the poem is something to do with the struggle of writing itself; the pause before the process begins; the frozen lake of the empty white page, the half familiar snatches of words and lines from other poets that crowd the mind.

Karen Kiefel · 5 December 2005

This poem is certainly one of my favorites. I almost always recite it when I ride my horse out in the snow. Isolated in the woods, with only a horse for company… there really is a wish to linger and this poem touches on that feeling so well. Though I heard once that the promise R. Frost had to keep was simply to return from town with some butter for dinner… he he he.

Peter Connors · 15 December 2005

My English professor gave me some insight into this poem that I don’t see on many web analysis’ of the work. At a reading of the poem at UNH, Mr. Frost took an inquisitive student aside after the presentation and told him what the poem was actually about. He said that the poem was about his returning from market to his farm in NH, on the winter solstice, “the darkest evening of the year.” He had failed to acquire any Christmas gifts for his family, as his farm goods had sold for a lower price than expected. Coming between “woods and frozen lake” he contemplated suicide, either by sinking himself in the lake or running into the woods. Thankfully and quite amazingly, the horse inquisitively “gave its harness bells a shake to see if there was some mistake,” and carried on with their journey back to the farm, saving Mr. Frost’s life from his own hands. If you wish I’m sure I can find the citation of this work, as my Professor has studied Mr. Frost extensively tthroughout his career and most assuredly has the citation.

Best Regards

Steve · 27 December 2005

The horse is life itself. The meaning is obvious. Although tragedy befalls us on occasion, we must continue on. The “pause” is the contemplation of suicide.

- Steve
Ontario Canada

Akshat Sharma · 5 January 2006

Frost’s piece is haunting much like an ‘Evanescence’ song, the poem opens up like a painful flower. I adore it…. I, who has never seen a winter.

‘I’ll miss the winter,
A world of fragile things,
Look for me in the white forest
hiding in a hollow tree
<you’ll find me there>’
-Evanescence.

HJCOZZ · 8 January 2006

Also, on of my favorites. Only one person seemed to connect Robert Frost’s thoughts to a physician in his horse and carriage going to make a house call and pausing by a beautiful scene, but still having promises (to see his patient), and miles to go before he sleeps. This is beautiful, not suicidal.

()

Angel · 30 January 2006

I love the way his poems are short but say something important like in A Minor Bird he used that you can’t make a bird be quiet. i just love all his poems i have a big book of all his poems. they are awesome.

John Przybyla · 30 January 2006

i think (and this is just my interpritation) that this poem is about a man who had an old friend that owned woods. this friend died, but the man still remembers him and his woods. the woods in this poem are just a state of mind and the man is looking back on his memories of the woods-he is not really in woods. The “house” in the village is the friend’s grave. The friend will not see him “stopping here” because he is dead. the man’s horse is his conscience telling him that he should not be just looking back on his memories and that he has better things to do. The “darkest evening of the year” is not really the winter solstace. it is an expression. it means the saddest evening of the year because it is the day his old friend died. The “promises to keep” are promises that the man made to himself and his friend that he would do certain things before he died and the “miles to go before i sleep” are the things that he has to do before he dies…the sleep is death.

just to let you know, i am only 13 years old so my interpritation (and my spelling) are not the best…but I have an amazing ELA teacher who makes us look deeper in meaning with poems. thank you for posting this poem…i have to memorize it for ELA and i was looking for it. I also enjoyed reading other people’s interpritations of this poem so I could share them with my class.

~Stephanie~

Susan Gay · 29 March 2006

Hi,
Just wanted to say I have been a follower of Robert Frost since high school. Of all the works he has done this is my favorite. Thanks for acknowledging this great poet.

His poetry as do all his pieces are remarkable, in the sense each person depending on their mood sees something different. This is why he is a unique and gifted poet.

I see two things. Love of nature, the need to escape the world of man. This may not be a man, but rather a woman or young person. Trapped by the beauty and solitude the person is drawn into the very heart of God’s gift to man. The darkness and beauty of the wood hold the person captive. Each person feels what the person in the poem does. We are all torn between enjoyment and obligation. We want so desperately to stay where it is pleasant, but ultimately realize we have responsibilities. When it snows and I drive past a wood especially at night, I have been known to stop and sing the last verse of this timeless verse.

I also see a person who is tired of the world of man and has come to leave the world behind. The darkness and the beauty of the wood, the snow (which could mean purity at the end of a life journey), the horse sensing something is not right, the comment they will not see me stopping here, all signify what someone contemplating suicide might perceive. I am glad at the end of the verse the person realizes there are people who care about them. You also see the person knowing their work is not done and they must follow through on the original plan.

Whatever Mr. Frost might have meant by his poem does not matter. It is left to each of us the readers of his work to enjoy it in our own personal way.

Thanks for posting it.
Susan

Allan Gardner · 6 April 2006

Like many I have often wondered of the meaning to Frost Poem.

As a young man I thought it was Father Christmas stopping to admire the woods, but with many presents and miles to go, he could not sleep.

As a slightly more mature young man I thought that the house might refer to God’s house, God’s woods. The traveller has much to do before his life’s work and many miles to go before he may sleep.

Having read others thoughts I think I’ll stick with my boyhood dreams.

Allan

samford · 15 April 2006

Every now and then in life, we need to call “time out,.” stop and recharge our spiritual batteries. It is a very personal experience that you don’t want to
discuss with or explain to others. Perhaps the recharge comes by stopping and watching a field fill up with snow, or perhaps it watching the joy of two lovers in springtime, laughing and talking on a city street. Enjoy it, imbibe it,…but after all, it’s only a refueling stop, don’t stay there because life goes on.

r_sanhaji · 20 April 2006

hallo
My name is hasnaa andi would like to add something that catched my intention, this poem is one of the great pome i have ever read it symolises human duties and responsiilities the Man must faced .The speaker was in difficult situation fighthing to survive without thinking of a moment of pleasure life made him acting like a fool ,so once he was passing something woke his desire a beatiful scene woods fill up with snow the speaker admires the beauty of the lovely,dark and deep woods however,life and social duties could not let him doing his admiration at ease no he was hurried because duty or promisses calls him

PeachyKeen26ihp · 29 April 2006

I like to think that this poem is about just taking some time out of your busy life to enjoy something simple.

Emily

Cassie Fraser · 1 May 2006

Ive always adored this poem; Not for just it’s simplicity and ethical rhyming but, of course, the magic. I love the captured scene, I can see it clearly in my head. Ive loved this since I was a small child. Thanks you.

Sugarcrazy15 · 14 May 2006

(~Nicole Allen~)

Sugarcrazy15 · 14 May 2006

My 7th grade class has to memorize this poem then recite it in front of the class.

Susan Styles · 16 May 2006

over fifty years ago i studied english.this poem i remember vey well,our assingmemt was to memorize (i can still recite it today) and give a therory.this was simply a doctor doing house calls which believe it on not doctors did at one time.after all these years i was wondering who wrote it i tried kipling first then to this site.thank you

JBrown · 29 May 2006

Does it matter what a poem means if one can enjoy it. This poem can be light or dark
But does it matter. Of course not. This poem is written to be enjoyed not over analyzed to death.

Becca307 · 13 July 2006

I saw a print of this Robert Frost poem at
an art show last weekend. I was very drawn
to it, and thought it was a perfect wedding gift for my parents 44th year together.
My parents live out in the country, in michigan–and my mother has been very ill. Through out 44 years, and 5 kids, 11 grandkids….my parents have been so strong. They work hard, and keep true to all their life promises, they never seem to “sleep”.
I truly read into many sides of the poem.

I’m excited to give them this gift.

Gayatri WattalUgra · 5 August 2006

I never thought I’fd find somany analyses on the poem.I just want to add that the last four lines became known to the whole of India because Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru had hand written and placed them on his desk.

FISH7SOCCER · 14 September 2006

The poem written by Robert Frost, Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening, makes me think about Santa Clause. Although he’s fake, the words they write in this poem made Santa pop into my head. The “darkest evening of the year”, also I believe would be the quietest and that’s when all the children go to bed early to sleep the night away till Christmas day. “Between the woods and frozen lake ” is like Colorado which is snowy to Virginia that is not, because Santa makes it all over the world, from snow to shine. “He gives the harness bells a shake” is like the reindeers taking off to another house. “He will not see me stopping here” because the children will be in bed. “The woods are lovely, dark and deep” because no ones out and everyone’s in bed getting ready for the big day, so Santa can come down the chimney. “To ask if there is some mistake” of a toy or a wrong direction. “But I have promises to keep” Santa makes promises to all the good children with the toys they’ve earned through out the years. “And miles to go before I sleep.” He has to make his slay, himself, and his reindeers all around the world, from California to Asia, before he can go to his snowy house in the North Pole and sleep.

Worwood Carol · 20 September 2006

I think this is the most beautiful poem I have read. You don’t have to be an intellectual genius for it to speak to you. People shouldn’t try and assert what Robert Frost was saying in it. Part of the beauty and craft of the writing is the very fact that the reader can use it as a reflection of his own life. So OK, Frost may have actually stopped by woods such as these on his way home from running an errand but, at the same time the very sight could have taken him off onto another train of thought. When I first read it, I took the first three verses at face value but then you reach the last verse and suddenly extra dimensions are added. When my little boy, Jai, died I would have loved to have gone into those woods, but I had promises to keep: a two year old little girl who still needed her mummy.

Fehratfaris · 5 October 2006

I am a seventh grader, and my tutor showed me this poem. I think this is one of Robert Frost’s better poems because it gives a feeling about nature. It made me think of when i was in my country, yugoslavia, in the woods when it snowed and it made me want to go back home.

mswuff · 9 October 2006

Today over lunch with my partner, the subject of Robert Frost’s poem came up, and suddenly, for the first time, it hit me like a brick: Good heavens, he’s talking about death! As soon as I got home, I googled it and found your site. Thanks for printing the entire poem.
- Trina

Derby Lewis · 15 October 2006

I was first introduced to this poem in a novel of Jilly Cooper’s called Polo. If you apply the poem in that context, to me the meaning or context becomes clear. It is a story of the trials of the human experience and the courage it takes to face and overcome them. The explananation that he was just buying groceries is a let down and trivialises the entire meaning.Thanks

Tony and Kathy Jaffary · 5 November 2006

Well, just to put it out there to let you know.

Robert Frost, is thinking about killing himself in this poem.

When he wrote the poem, he was going through manic depression.

The first 2 stanzas are saying that he is alone and no one is around. Perfect place and time to do the deed.

His horse doesn’t give his harness bells a shake, he is just shaking the snow of his back. And Roberts sees that as a message. To not commit suicide.

But then he talks himself out of it, by remembering that he has a long life ahead of him with “promises to keep” and “miles to go before I sleep”

Sleep = Death

It is a lovely poem

Steve Shannon · 6 December 2006

It’s about Santa Claus

Steve Shannon
Morning Co-host/Public Service Director
CJWW Radio
Saskatoon, Sk
S7K 5S5
ph:fax

Roy J Palma · 23 December 2006

This is such a wonderful poem to me, I had to memorize it and recite the poem in front of my 1st grade class in 1964, a very good memory.

~:o)
~:o) ~¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤~

Scott Susan · 17 January 2007

I’m with you, Elena!

I’ve always thought it was about Santa. Glad to know that there is someone else out there (maybe really “out there”) like me.

Ah, to see life through rose colored glasses!

Michael Smith · 8 February 2007

how so have you come to learn only the last verse?

Frolence Rutechura · 12 March 2007

I really like this poem by Frost, especially when he compares our general care of life without nature. The last two repeared verses emphasizes Frost’s thematic domain about nature.

Frolence Rutechura,
Carleton University,
1125 Colonel By Drive,
221A Glengarry House,
Mailbox 2503,
Ottawa,Ontario,
Canada.
Tel:/5020

alternative emails: or

keep your fears to yourself but share your courage with others

Caren &amp; Jeff Gallagher · 26 March 2007

I LOVE THIS POEM!!!!!!

My fifth grade teacher loved Robbie Frost!!! She had us memorize this poem and now I have a research project on poetry. And I picked Robert Frost for my poet. It’s so much fun learning about him after fifth grade. He’s really interesting.

By the
way………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………….. I LOVE THIS
POEM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Lou Johnston · 1 April 2007

Frost was asked what he was thinking about when he wrote the poem. He replied: “i was just going for groceries”.

Those who think he was contemplating suicide are really stretching it.

Gwen

Charles · 31 May 2007

Right on

Charles P. Fairchild of nearly 57 years experience.

LaDora Flood · 3 November 2007

Hi,

I feel I have been there and experienced the feelings. Many times I have ridden my horse on the deserted back country roads in the snow belt of PA. I have stopped her on the snow covered roads with the woods by our sides, listened to the quiet, and watched the flakes slowly fall. Often she would nod her head or raise a hoof and hold it up, as it to say, “Why are we stopping here?” The smell of freshness, the feelings of cold fingers, toes, and nose…we are alone but we are not alone. Nature can be so perfect. Sometimes we just have to stop and take it into ourselves. The problems of life can never compete and disappear, if only for a while. Frost writes,”The woods are lovely, dark and deep…”. I think he might have felt, like me, that you just want to stay in this wonderland for a while longer but the cold, the horse and other demands on your life call you away.

I believe the person in the poem could be a country doctor traveling between patients or some other person traveling between farms. I do not see it as a person thinking about suicide at all.

Peter, I am the same age as you are. If you don’t like your life, you can at least change your inner life, your thoughts. They are yours. Sneak away when you can to sit under a brillant colored fall tree, spend time noticing the sky, find some pond or lake and watch the water shimmer. We are only here for such a short time. LaDora

The Diplomat · 16 December 2007

It was sometime between 1959 and 1962- I was fortunate to be in the front row for an hour of Robert Frost reading Robert Frost.

As a purely technical person, I never could read beneath the surface of any literature and disliked poetry. All save Robert Frost. And this poem my favorite. His own comments on his work have long escaped me except for his closing remark. “Good fences make good neighbors- or do they?” He left us with that.

I will never forget that hour.

Connie Christopher · 26 December 2007

Thanks for your excellent analysis of the Frost poem. God only knows when you posted that but I just read it and appreciated it.

Shannon Sammons · 28 December 2007

The great thing about this poem is that it is simplistic yet beautiful. It reminds you as a younger person you would have explored the lovely woods but as a grownup with responsibilities how sad it is that you cannot.

Linda.Beebe · 3 January 2008

I do love this poem. While I conceed the poem may have a darker edge could it be that the he’s telling us to not be wrapped up in our tasks. He could be telling us to stop and notice the joys and beauty around us at all times.

Linda Beebe-Boring
UWE & WVE Aspire

Be less curious about people and more curious about ideas. Marie Curie (1867 - 1958)

¸Öïï ³¯ · 13 January 2008

hello, i am Cindy
i saw you in the your message of the Robert Frost ‘‘stopping by woods on a snowy evening. i am touch by your words. So, don’t give up everything, finally you will succeed. Haha, you say you are the journalist, woo, amazing job. i am the university studednt from the Taiwan. i hope to make friends with you. by by

____________________________¡A §K¶O¤U¸ü°g§Aµ§¡A¤¤­^½Ķ»´ÃP¬d

Keith Sisk · 31 January 2008

R. Keith Sisk

E-Commerce

Jarden Applied Materialsx1589

jesusarvizu · 19 February 2008

lame ass poem

RLSALES · 19 February 2008

I had to memorize this poem back in the 8th grade. Now it is my sons time and we now both enjoy this poem!
La’Nae M. Garner

Larry Ellison · 23 May 2008

I find it interesting that the end of this beautiful poem appears in two movies (that I am aware of): (1) Telefon, a suspense movie about a cold war plot by Russia to trigger terrorist attacks on the United States via imbedded operatives. These unsuspecting citizens are commanded to carry out their assignments when they receive a telephone call with the last four lines of this poem, which comprise a post-hypnotic command to initiate a pre-planned attack. (2) Grindhouse: Death Proof, a rather bloody movie about a stunt man who hunts down and kills young women with his car. The last four lines of the poem are a secret code that, when recited by a stranger in a bar, require a young woman to perform a lap-dance. Are there more examples of the use of this poem in movies?