illustration of a snowy forest with a cabin in the distance

Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening

by Robert Frost

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Student Question

What are the rural theme and moral message in the poem "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening"?

Expert Answers

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This poem deals with many themes, with nature being the main focus of the poem. So, one of the primary themes is the beauty of nature and the speaker's fascination with it. Many of Frost's poems deal with rural settings. The poems seem simple, yet they hide some profound meaning when we delve into analysis.

This poem talks about the conflict between the world of wilderness and the civilized world. The speaker is captivated by the former and wishes to stay away from the latter, even just momentarily. The world of wilderness has a soothing effect on the reader, and the speaker is enthralled by the woods, which are "lovely, dark and deep." He watches the woods "fill up with snow" and enjoys the scenery, which provides relaxation from the real world of obligations.

The speaker wishes he could live in that moment of serenity and darkness for good, but he has "promises to keep, and miles to go before" he "sleeps." If we are to understand this world of wilderness as the fantasy world or the world that comes after death, then the poem implies that the speaker must first fulfill his earthly mission which is not yet complete before he joins the world he desires. Before he can enjoy the comfort and mystery of this fantasy world, embodied by the lovely woods on a winter evening, he has many obligations and tasks to complete.

In the last stanza, the speaker indicates that he must return to his everyday world, and a sense of nostalgia for the fantasy world will most likely haunt the speaker.

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