Essay on Robert Frosts Design - 1151 Words

Robert Frosts Design Robert Frost outlines an ironic and disturbing situation involving a flower, a spider, and a moth in his poem Design. The poems text suggests the possibility of an absence of a god, but does no more than simply beg the question, for Frosts speaker does not offer the answer. By examining the events of the poem in the first stanza and the speakers annotative second stanza, we†¦show more content†¦The purpose of the plants mention in the poem is to be the ironic stage for what is soon to occur. To complete the image, the speaker declares that this white spider on a white plant hold[s] up a moth / [l]ike a white piece of rig id satin cloth (2-3). White again, the moth also represents innocence, just as the spider and heal-all do. This model is ironic: an innocent spider on an innocent heal-all holds up an innocent dead moth. The simile in which the speaker describes the moth, [l]ike a white piece of satin cloth (3), refers to a piece of a torn wedding dress, symbolizing the vulnerability of things considered to be holy, such as holy matrimony. Frost designates the spider, heal-all, and moth as [a]ssorted characters of death and blight (4), suggesting that all three had a part in the moths fatality. Ironically, Frost uses the word blight inferring the heal-alls backward influence, such as if aloe were to cause an infection. Frost again uses irony proclaiming that these characters are [m]ixed ready to begin the morning right (5), as though they are ‘part of a balanced breakfast, a ritualistic practice which ensues good health. In this line, the poet implies that the death scene and others like it must occur in order for life to continue on each morning for particular creatures; this spiders breakfast is an occurrence of Darwinist natural selection. The poet then conveys this breakfastShow MoreRelated Interpretations of Robert Frosts Poem, Design Essay1089 Words   |  5 PagesInterpretations of Robert Frosts Poem, Design The poem Design explores whether the events in nature are simply random occurrences or part of a larger plan by God, and if theres a force that dominates and controls our very existence. On that point both Jere K Huzzard and Everett Carter aggress on. They differ in their interpretations of the poems ending and what they think Frost wanted to convey with his vague ending. Both agree that the last line of the poem was written in an undefinedRead MoreRobert Frosts life and how it affected the writing of his poem design725 Words   |  2 PagesRobert Frost - ï ¿ ½ PAGE ï ¿ ½3ï ¿ ½ - He has bequeathed his nation a body of imperishable verse from which Americans will forever gain joy and understanding. This is how President John F. Kennedy described Robert Frost. Robert Frost s amazing poetry has been capturing the hearts and minds of readers around the world. The life Frost lived, and the poetry he wrote are a testament to his love for nature and his awe of the world. Robert Frost, who died in 1963 at the age of 88, is one of the most cherishedRead MoreRobert Frost: Design1385 Words   |  6 PagesWritten by Robert Frost, â€Å"Design† is a deeply philosophical poem that understands something too big to be understood by taking a small piece and understanding it and linking it to the universe at large, answers many of the largest questions that surround the universe while recognizing those questions may potentially be unanswerable, addresses the Argument from Design and the belief in a creator, describes the two concepts of Design, which can be metaphorically categorized both as an â€Å"engineering†Read MoreAesthetic Quality in The Design by Robert Frost Essay1082 Words   |  5 Pagesexcellent example of aesthetic quality in a poem would be that of Robert Frosts Design. This Poem encompasses various forms of aesthetic dimensions, from the selection of colours in the poem, to the choice of words. Frost explores the age-old enigma o f fate, while rhythmically drawing the reader in, obliging them to take notice and ponder the questions he is purposing. Robert Frost is a master of the metaphor, and after reading Design for the first time, I was compelled to examine the poem for a deeperRead MoreEssay about Nature in Robert Frosts Poems1649 Words   |  7 PagesUnder the stars of the sky, fifteen-year old Robert Frost explored the heavens through a telescope. He was seeking affirmation of the proverbial question that has plagued mankind for centuries—the proof and existence of God. While surveying the cosmos, Frost‘s interest was stirred, so he visited a library and obtained books that had illustrated star charts. Within these pages, his knowledge of the stars was edified and a poet was born. Frost‘s first poems were ―astronomicalâ€â€" and invokedRead MoreRobert Frost s Writing Style1589 Words   |  7 Pages Robert Frost once said, â€Å"The figure a poem makes. It begins in delight and ends in wisdom... in a clarification of life - not necessarily a great clarification, such as sects and cults are founded on, but in a momentary stay against confusion† (Robert Frost Quotes). This same kind of thinking opened the door for metaphorical poetry that helped to show the poets transparency. His love for the social outcast and the struggles of his life are exhibited greatly in his poems. Robert Frost helpedRead MorePoetry Analysis Robert Frost Essay733 Words   |  3 PagesPOETRY ANALYSIS: DESIGN Robert Frosts poem Design seemingly disputes the question whether there is a design to life; yet, he is not able to establish an answer. Despite the comlexity of his poem his implied message is rather simple. Frosts statement clarified humans eagerness to finding a meaning to life and an essential background and reason to events, regardless of how small and insignificant they might be. His work states an advice not to interpret too much into insignificant conincidencesRead MoreWalt Whitman And Robert Frost s A Noiseless Patient Spider1186 Words   |  5 Pages(Spider Symbol 1). The choices we make fabricate our lives; the spider chooses where to lay its web and how to connect each thread. Some of the most well-known poets, Walt Whitman and Robert Frost, display the spider in this light. Walt Whitman’s â€Å"A Noiseless Patient Spider† varies greatly from Robert Frost’s â€Å"Design†. Whitman stresses the importance of the title by repeating it in the first line of the poem. The title suggests the work and patience required of a spider to create their web, makingRead MoreNature Of A Man By Robert Frost1279 Words   |  6 Pagespoetry, the way an artist writes their poetry shows how they wanted their work to be perceived. Robert Frost wrote his work in common folk dialect, unlike many writers of his time. Frost’s poems Design, Road not taken, and my November guest exemplify his use of diction, imagery, and word choice to show situations in a natural form, which made Frost so popular to so many varied audiences. Robert Frost’s poetry is in between the lines of modern poetry and 19th century works. In most of his poetry,Read MoreAnalysis Of Frost s Poem Frost 1212 Words   |  5 PagesThis was not a coincidence. The irony utilized by Frost clearly contributes to the overall theme of design governing situations on earth. Frost also utilizes tone to emphasize the horrific nature of the scene while speaking in a seemingly light manner. Frost’s diction can be divided into two major categories: whimsical and light, and dark. This contrast contributes to the irony of the scene as well. Specific word choices in the octave show this clearly. Frost employs light, pleasant, and whimsical