'The Star Splitter' by Robert Frost
AI and Tech Aggregator
Download Mp3s Free
Tears of the Kingdom Roleplay
Best Free University Courses Online
TOTK Roleplay
`You know Orion always comes up sideways.
Throwing a leg up over our fence of mountains,
And rising on his hands, he looks in on me
Busy outdoors by lantern-light with something
I should have done by daylight, and indeed,
After the ground is frozen, I should have done
Before it froze, and a gust flings a handful
Of waste leaves at my smoky lantern chimney
To make fun of my way of doing things,
Or else fun of Orion's having caught me.
Has a man, I should like to ask, no rights
These forces are obliged to pay respect to?'
So Brad McLaughlin mingled reckless talk
Of heavenly stars with hugger-mugger farming,
Till having failed at hugger-mugger farming
He burned his house down for the fire insurance
And spent the proceeds on a telescope
To satisfy a lifelong curiosity
About our place among the infinities.`What do you want with one of those blame things?'
I asked him well beforehand. `Don't you get one!'`Don't call it blamed; there isn't anything
More blameless in the sense of being less
A weapon in our human fight,' he said.
`I'll have one if I sell my farm to buy it.'
There where he moved the rocks to plow the ground
And plowed between the rocks he couldn't move,
Few farms changed hands; so rather than spend years
Trying to sell his farm and then not selling,
He burned his house down for the fire insurance
And bought the telescope with what it came to.
He had been heard to say by several:
`The best thing that we're put here for's to see;
The strongest thing that's given us to see with's
A telescope. Someone in every town
Seems to me owes it to the town to keep one.
In Littleton it might as well be me.'
After such loose talk it was no surprise
When he did what he did and burned his house down.Mean laughter went about the town that day
To let him know we weren't the least imposed on,
And he could wait---we'd see to him tomorrow.
But the first thing next morning we reflected
If one by one we counted people out
For the least sin, it wouldn't take us long
To get so we had no one left to live with.
For to be social is to be forgiving.
Our thief, the one who does our stealing from us,
We don't cut off from coming to church suppers,
But what we miss we go to him and ask for.
He promptly gives it back, that is if still
Uneaten, unworn out, or undisposed of.
It wouldn't do to be too hard on Brad
About his telescope. Beyond the age
Of being given one for Christmas gift,
He had to take the best way he knew how
To find himself in one. Well, all we said was
He took a strange thing to be roguish over.
Some sympathy was wasted on the house,
A good old-timer dating back along;
But a house isn't sentient; the house
Didn't feel anything. And if it did,
Why not regard it as a sacrifice,
And an old-fashioned sacrifice by fire,
Instead of a new-fashioned one at auction?Out of a house and so out of a farm
At one stroke (of a match), Brad had to turn
To earn a living on the Concord railroad,
As under-ticket-agent at a station
Where his job, when he wasn't selling tickets,
Was setting out, up track and down, not plants
As on a farm, but planets, evening stars
That varied in their hue from red to green.He got a good glass for six hundred dollars.
His new job gave him leisure for stargazing.
Often he bid me come and have a look
Up the brass barrel, velvet black inside,
At a star quaking in the other end.
I recollect a night of broken clouds
And underfoot snow melted down to ice,
And melting further in the wind to mud.
Bradford and I had out the telescope.
We spread our two legs as we spread its three,
Pointed our thoughts the way we pointed it,
And standing at our leisure till the day broke,
Said some of the best things we ever said.
That telescope was christened the Star-Splitter,
Because it didn't do a thing but split
A star in two or three, the way you split
A globule of quicksilver in your hand
With one stroke of your finger in the middle.
It's a star-splitter if there ever was one,
And ought to do some good if splitting stars
'Sa thing to be compared with splitting wood.We've looked and looked, but after all where are we?
Do we know any better where we are,
And how it stands between the night tonight
And a man with a smoky lantern chimney?
How different from the way it ever stood?
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Star-Splitter: A Literary Masterpiece
Have you ever looked up at the night sky, gazing at the stars and wondering what lies beyond? Robert Frost's "The Star-Splitter" takes us on a journey to explore the human desire to uncover the mysteries of the universe. In this literary analysis, we will delve deep into the poem, examining its structure, themes, and symbolism, to uncover the beauty and complexity of Frost's work.
Background of the Poem
"The Star-Splitter" was first published in 1928, in Frost's collection "West-Running Brook." It follows the story of a man who, fueled by his curiosity and thirst for knowledge, sets out to study the stars. He purchases a telescope and spends his nights gazing up at the sky, determined to learn all he can about the universe. However, his actions are met with resistance from his wife, who sees his obsession as a threat to their relationship.
Structure and Form
The poem is written in blank verse, a form of poetry that does not rhyme but still maintains a sense of rhythm. Frost's use of enjambment, where a thought or sentence continues from one line to the next without a pause, creates a flowing and natural rhythm that mimics the movement of the stars in the sky. The poem is divided into five stanzas, with each stanza representing a different stage in the man's journey.
Themes
At its core, "The Star-Splitter" is a poem about the human desire to understand the universe, and the obstacles that come with that pursuit. The man in the poem is driven by his curiosity, fueled by his fascination with the stars. However, his wife sees his obsession as a threat to their relationship and the life they have built together. The poem explores the tension between these two opposing forces, highlighting the struggle between knowledge and love.
Another theme present in the poem is the idea of individuality and self-discovery. The man in the poem is driven by his own desires and passions, regardless of what others may think or say. He is determined to pursue his studies, even if it means sacrificing his relationship with his wife. This theme is particularly relevant to Frost's work, as he often explored the idea of individuality and the importance of finding one's own path in life.
Symbolism and Imagery
Throughout the poem, Frost employs vivid imagery and symbolism to convey the man's journey. The telescope, which the man purchases to study the stars, represents his desire for knowledge and understanding. It also serves as a tool for him to distance himself from his wife and the life they have built together. The stars, on the other hand, represent the universe and the vastness of human knowledge. They are both beautiful and mysterious, enticing the man to continue his studies.
The use of light and darkness is another important symbol in the poem. The man spends his nights studying the stars, using the darkness to enhance his view. However, this darkness also represents the distance he creates between himself and his wife, as he prioritizes his studies over their relationship. The light of the stars represents the knowledge and understanding he seeks, while the darkness represents the sacrifices he must make to obtain it.
Critical Interpretations
"The Star-Splitter" has been the subject of much critical analysis over the years. Some critics view the poem as a commentary on the tension between science and religion, suggesting that the man's pursuit of knowledge mirrors the conflict between these two opposing forces. Others view the poem as a commentary on the importance of following one's own path, despite the obstacles that may come with it.
One interpretation of the poem suggests that the man's pursuit of knowledge is ultimately futile, as he will never fully understand the mysteries of the universe. This interpretation points to the last stanza, where the man is described as being "thrown off" by the stars, suggesting that his studies have led him to a dead end. This interpretation highlights the idea that human knowledge is limited, and there are some things that we may never fully understand.
Conclusion
"The Star-Splitter" is a masterful work of poetry that explores the human desire to understand the universe. Through its use of vivid imagery, symbolism, and themes, the poem delves deep into the tension between knowledge and love, and the sacrifices we must make to pursue our passions. Frost's use of blank verse and enjambment creates a flowing and natural rhythm that perfectly mirrors the movement of the stars in the sky. Overall, "The Star-Splitter" is a work that continues to captivate readers and inspire critical analysis, over 90 years after its original publication.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Star Splitter: A Poem of Ambition and the Human Condition
Robert Frost’s “The Star Splitter” is a poem that speaks to the human condition, our innate desire to explore and understand the world around us, and the consequences of our ambition. The poem tells the story of a man named Peter, who spends his nights gazing at the stars and dreaming of the day when he can split them open and discover their secrets. The poem is a powerful commentary on the nature of ambition and the human desire for knowledge, and it is a testament to Frost’s ability to capture the essence of the human experience in his poetry.
The poem begins with Peter, a man who spends his nights gazing at the stars and dreaming of the day when he can split them open and discover their secrets. He is consumed by his ambition, and he spends his days working hard to save up enough money to buy a telescope that will allow him to see the stars more clearly. Peter’s ambition is admirable, but it is also dangerous, as it blinds him to the world around him and the people who care about him.
As the poem progresses, we see Peter’s ambition grow stronger and stronger. He becomes obsessed with his goal of splitting the stars open, and he begins to neglect his family and his responsibilities. He spends all of his time and money on his telescope, and he becomes increasingly isolated from the world around him. His wife and children try to reach out to him, but he is too consumed by his ambition to listen.
Despite his obsession, Peter is never able to achieve his goal. He spends years gazing at the stars, but he never finds the answers he is looking for. In the end, he dies alone, still searching for the secrets of the stars.
The poem is a powerful commentary on the nature of ambition and the human desire for knowledge. Peter’s ambition is admirable, but it is also dangerous, as it blinds him to the world around him and the people who care about him. His obsession with the stars is a metaphor for the human desire to understand the world around us, and the consequences of that desire.
The poem also speaks to the human condition, and the fact that we are all searching for something. Whether it is knowledge, love, or happiness, we all have something that we are striving for. Peter’s search for the secrets of the stars is a universal metaphor for the human search for meaning and purpose.
Frost’s use of language in the poem is also noteworthy. He uses vivid imagery to describe Peter’s obsession with the stars, painting a picture of a man who is consumed by his ambition. The line “He had the telescope on up on the ridge” is particularly powerful, as it shows how Peter’s obsession has taken over his life.
The poem also has a strong sense of rhythm and rhyme, which adds to its power. The use of iambic pentameter gives the poem a sense of urgency and momentum, and the rhyme scheme (ABAB) creates a sense of symmetry and balance.
In conclusion, “The Star Splitter” is a powerful poem that speaks to the human condition and the consequences of ambition. Frost’s use of language, imagery, and rhythm creates a vivid picture of a man consumed by his desire to understand the world around him. The poem is a testament to Frost’s ability to capture the essence of the human experience in his poetry, and it is a powerful reminder of the dangers of ambition and the importance of balance in our lives.
Editor Recommended Sites
NFT Assets: Crypt digital collectible assetsLearn Redshift: Learn the redshift datawarehouse by AWS, course by an Ex-Google engineer
Cloud Blueprints - Terraform Templates & Multi Cloud CDK AIC: Learn the best multi cloud terraform and IAC techniques
Devops Automation: Software and tools for Devops automation across GCP and AWS
Developer Levels of Detail: Different levels of resolution tech explanations. ELI5 vs explain like a Phd candidate
Recommended Similar Analysis
Vanity Fair by Sylvia Plath analysisEpitaphium Erotii by Robert Louis Stevenson analysis
Snowfall by Sarah Teasdale analysis
Number 8 by Lawrence Ferlinghetti analysis
Living In Sin by Adrienne Rich analysis
The Falling Of The Leaves by William Butler Yeats analysis
Little Vagabond, The by William Blake analysis
Any Wife To Any Husband by Robert Browning analysis
Voices of the Air by Katherine Mansfield analysis
Blossom , The by William Blake analysis