'Home Burial' by Robert Frost
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He saw her from the bottom of the stairs
Before she saw him. She was starting down,
Looking back over her shoulder at some fear.
She took a doubtful step and then undid it
To raise herself and look again. He spoke
Advancing toward her: "What is it you see
From up there always? -- for I want to know."
She turned and sank upon her skirts at that,
And her face changed from terrified to dull.
He said to gain time: "What is it you see?"
Mounting until she cowered under him.
"I will find out now -- you must tell me, dear."
She, in her place, refused him any help,
With the least stiffening of her neck and silence.
She let him look, sure that he wouldn't see,
Blind creature; and a while he didn't see.
But at last he murmured, "Oh" and again, "Oh.""What is it -- what?" she said."Just that I see.""You don't," she challenged. "Tell me what it is.""The wonder is I didn't see at once.
I never noticed it from here before.
I must be wonted to it -- that's the reason.
The little graveyard where my people are!
So small the window frames the whole of it.
Not so much larger than a bedroom, is it?
There are three stones of slate and one of marble,
Broad-shouldered little slabs there in the sunlight
On the sidehill. We haven't to mind
Editor 1 Interpretation
Home Burial by Robert Frost: A Heartbreaking Exploration of Grief and Disconnection
Home Burial by Robert Frost is a poem that explores the depths of grief, loss, and disconnection between a husband and wife following the death of their young child. Through its hauntingly beautiful imagery, powerful use of language, and raw emotional intensity, Frost's poem captures the rawness of human pain and the ways in which it can tear people apart.
At its core, Home Burial is a poem about two people who are struggling to connect with each other in the aftermath of a tragic loss. The poem is set in a rural New England home, and it begins with the husband, who is digging a grave for their dead child, calling out to his wife, who is upstairs in their bedroom. From the very first lines of the poem, we can sense the tension and distance between the two characters:
"He saw her from the bottom of the stairs Before she saw him. She was starting down, Looking back over her shoulder at some fear."
Right away, we get the sense that something is deeply wrong between these two people. The wife is "starting down" the stairs, which suggests that she is physically descending from a higher place – perhaps a metaphorical representation of her emotional distance from her husband. She is also looking "back over her shoulder at some fear," which suggests that she is anxious and unsettled. When she finally sees her husband, she is visibly uncomfortable, and the conversation between them quickly turns tense.
What follows is a deeply emotional exchange between the husband and wife, as they struggle to connect with each other and understand each other's pain. The wife is angry and resentful, blaming her husband for not grieving properly and for not understanding her feelings. The husband, in turn, is frustrated and bewildered by his wife's emotional volatility and inability to move on from their loss. As the poem progresses, we see how these two people are trapped in their own grief and struggling to find a way to reach out to each other.
One of the most powerful aspects of Home Burial is its use of imagery to convey the intensity of the characters' emotions. Frost's description of the husband's digging of the grave is particularly vivid and evocative:
"He scraped the scoop against the gravelly ground And the dirt flew out between his feet."
These lines are simple, but they are also incredibly powerful. The scraping of the scoop against the ground is a visceral, almost violent sound, and the dirt flying out between the husband's feet suggests a sense of chaos and disarray. This sense of chaos is further reinforced by the description of the wife's emotional state, which is similarly turbulent and unpredictable.
Through its use of language and imagery, Home Burial is a poem that is both deeply personal and universal. On the one hand, it is a portrait of two individuals struggling to connect with each other in the wake of a terrible loss. On the other hand, it is a larger exploration of grief and the ways in which it can isolate us from the people we love. As such, it is a poem that continues to resonate with readers today, over a century after it was first written.
In conclusion, Home Burial by Robert Frost is a poem that is both heartbreakingly beautiful and deeply affecting. Through its exploration of grief, loss, and disconnection, it speaks to the very heart of what it means to be human, and reminds us of the power of language and poetry to capture the most profound and complex of human emotions.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Poetry Home Burial: A Masterpiece of Robert Frost
Robert Frost, one of the most celebrated poets of the 20th century, is known for his ability to capture the essence of human emotions in his works. His poem, "Home Burial," is a prime example of his mastery of the craft. The poem is a heart-wrenching portrayal of grief, loss, and the breakdown of communication between a husband and wife. In this article, we will delve into the poem's themes, structure, and language to understand why it is considered a classic.
Themes
The central theme of "Home Burial" is the breakdown of communication between a husband and wife after the loss of their child. The poem begins with the wife, Amy, watching her husband, the farmer, bury their child. The husband is portrayed as stoic and unemotional, while Amy is consumed by grief. The poem explores the different ways in which the couple deals with their loss and how their inability to communicate with each other leads to a breakdown in their relationship.
Another theme that runs through the poem is the difference in the way men and women deal with grief. The husband is shown as being practical and logical, while Amy is consumed by her emotions. The poem highlights the societal expectations placed on men and women and how these expectations can lead to a breakdown in communication.
Structure
"Home Burial" is a dramatic poem that consists of 148 lines of free verse. The poem is divided into five sections, each of which represents a different stage in the couple's relationship. The first section sets the scene and introduces the characters. The second section is a dialogue between the husband and wife, where they discuss their child's death. The third section is a monologue by Amy, where she expresses her grief and anger towards her husband. The fourth section is a monologue by the husband, where he tries to explain his actions. The final section is a reflection by Amy, where she comes to terms with her loss.
The structure of the poem is significant as it mirrors the breakdown in communication between the husband and wife. The dialogue in the second section is stilted and awkward, with the couple talking past each other. The monologues in the third and fourth sections show the couple's inability to understand each other's perspectives. The final section is a reflection by Amy, where she finally begins to understand her husband's point of view.
Language
The language used in "Home Burial" is simple and direct, with a focus on everyday language. The poem is written in the vernacular, with the characters speaking in a way that is true to their rural background. The use of everyday language makes the poem more accessible to readers and helps to convey the emotions of the characters.
The poem also makes use of imagery to convey the emotions of the characters. The image of the husband digging the grave is a powerful one, representing the finality of death. The image of Amy standing at the top of the stairs, looking down at her husband, represents the emotional distance between them.
Conclusion
"Home Burial" is a masterpiece of Robert Frost's poetry, exploring the themes of grief, loss, and the breakdown of communication. The structure of the poem mirrors the breakdown in communication between the husband and wife, while the language and imagery help to convey the emotions of the characters. The poem is a powerful portrayal of the human experience and is a testament to Frost's mastery of the craft.
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