'After Apple Picking' by Robert Frost
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North of Boston1914My long two-pointed ladder's sticking through a tree
Toward heaven still.
And there's a barrel that I didn't fill
Beside it, and there may be two or three
Apples I didn't pick upon some bough.
But I am done with apple-picking now.
Essence of winter sleep is on the night,
The scent of apples; I am drowsing off.
I cannot shake the shimmer from my sight
I got from looking through a pane of glass
I skimmed this morning from the water-trough,
And held against the world of hoary grass.
It melted, and I let it fall and break.
But I was well
Upon my way to sleep before it fell,
And I could tell
What form my dreaming was about to take.
Magnified apples appear and reappear,
Stem end and blossom end,
And every fleck of russet showing clear.
My instep arch not only keeps the ache,
It keeps the pressure of a ladder-round.
And I keep hearing from the cellar-bin
That rumbling sound
Of load on load of apples coming in.
For I have had too much
Of apple-picking; I am overtired
Of the great harvest I myself desired.
There were ten thousand thousand fruit to touch,
Cherish in hand, lift down, and not let fall,
For all
That struck the earth,
No matter if not bruised, or spiked with stubble,
Went surely to the cider-apple heap
As of no worth.
One can see what will trouble
This sleep of mine, whatever sleep it is.
Were he not gone,
The woodchuck could say whether it's like his
Long sleep, as I describe its coming on,
Or just some human sleep.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Literary Criticism and Interpretation: "After Apple Picking" by Robert Frost
Have you ever found yourself in a state of exhaustion, where your mind is tired and your body aches, but you can't seem to shake off the feeling of weariness? Robert Frost's "After Apple Picking" is a poem that captures this feeling beautifully. Written in 1914, the poem is a meditation on life, death, and the choices we make in between. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will explore the themes, imagery, and structure of the poem.
Themes
At its core, "After Apple Picking" is a poem about mortality. The speaker is tired after a long day of apple picking, and as he lies down to rest, his mind begins to wander. He reflects on his life and the choices he has made, wondering if he has lived it to the fullest:
For I have had too much
Of apple-picking: I am overtired
Of the great harvest I myself desired.
There were ten thousand fruit to touch,
Cherish in hand, lift down, and not let fall.
For all
That struck the earth,
No matter if not bruised or spiked with stubble,
Went surely to the cider-apple heap
As of no worth.
The speaker's exhaustion represents the final stages of his life, and he is reflecting on what he has accomplished. The apples represent the choices he has made, and the fact that they are going to waste suggests that he has not made the most of his time on earth. The theme of mortality is reinforced by the imagery of the ladder in the second stanza:
My long two-pointed ladder's sticking through a tree
Toward heaven still,
And there's a barrel that I didn't fill
Beside it, and there may be two or three
Apples I didn't pick upon some bough.
But I am done with apple-picking now.
The ladder is a symbol of the speaker's attempts to reach for something higher than himself, but ultimately, he has not been able to fill the barrel. The apples he has missed represent the opportunities he has missed in life, and the fact that he is "done with apple-picking now" suggests that he has come to the end of his journey.
Imagery
Frost's use of imagery in "After Apple Picking" is masterful. The poem is full of sensory details that bring the speaker's exhaustion and mortality to life. We can feel the weight of the apples in our hands, the smell of the cider, and the chill of the winter air. In the first stanza, Frost uses a metaphor to describe the speaker's state of mind:
The rumbling sound
Of load on load of apples coming in.
Towards the end of the day,
When the sun was gone, and the apples frost,
And the cider-pressings frosty in the trough.
The apples represent the speaker's thoughts, which are coming in "load on load." The fact that they are frosty suggests that they are cold and distant, and the trough represents the speaker's mind, which is full of these cold and distant thoughts.
The imagery of the ladder is also powerful. The ladder represents the speaker's attempts to reach for something higher than himself, but it also represents the inevitability of death. The fact that the ladder is "sticking through a tree / Toward heaven still" suggests that the speaker is reaching for something beyond this world, but the fact that it is "sticking through a tree" suggests that he is rooted in this world and cannot escape his mortality.
Structure
The structure of "After Apple Picking" is deceptively simple. The poem consists of two stanzas, each with eight lines, and follows a loose iambic pentameter. However, Frost's use of enjambment creates a sense of flow and continuity between the stanzas. The poem begins with the speaker's exhaustion, and the second stanza begins with the same sense of weariness:
My instep arch not only keeps the ache,
It keeps the pressure of a ladder-round.
I feel the ladder sway as the boughs bend.
And I keep hearing from the cellar-bin
That rumbling sound
Of load on load of apples coming in.
The repetition of the "rumbling sound" creates a sense of continuity between the two stanzas, and the fact that the speaker is still hearing it suggests that his thoughts are still coming in "load on load."
The poem also employs a number of poetic techniques, such as alliteration, assonance, and rhyme. For example, in the second stanza, Frost uses alliteration to create a sense of movement and momentum:
My instep arch not only keeps the ache,
It keeps the pressure of a ladder-round.
I feel the ladder sway as the boughs bend.
The repetition of the "k" and "p" sounds creates a sense of tension and motion, and the fact that the speaker is feeling the ladder sway suggests that he is at the mercy of forces beyond his control.
Conclusion
In conclusion, "After Apple Picking" is a beautiful and haunting poem that captures the feeling of exhaustion and mortality. The themes of life, death, and the choices we make in between are explored through powerful imagery and masterful structure. Frost's use of metaphors, enjambment, and poetic techniques creates a sense of flow and continuity that draws the reader into the speaker's world. As we read the poem, we are forced to confront our own mortality and the choices we have made in life. "After Apple Picking" is a timeless work of art that continues to resonate with readers today.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Poetry After Apple Picking: A Masterpiece of Robert Frost
Robert Frost, one of the most celebrated poets of the 20th century, is known for his unique style of writing that combines simplicity with depth. His poem "After Apple Picking" is a classic example of his mastery of the craft. This poem is a beautiful reflection on life, death, and the human experience. In this article, we will analyze and explain the poem in detail.
The poem begins with the speaker describing his experience of apple picking. He talks about how he has been picking apples all day and is now tired. He says, "My long two-pointed ladder's sticking through a tree / Toward heaven still." This line is significant because it sets the tone for the rest of the poem. The ladder represents the speaker's desire to reach for something higher, something beyond the mundane. The fact that it is "sticking through a tree" suggests that the speaker is trying to reach for something that is not easily attainable.
The next few lines of the poem describe the speaker's physical exhaustion. He says, "I feel the ladder sway as the boughs bend. / And I keep hearing from the cellar bin / The rumbling sound / Of load on load of apples coming in." These lines create a sense of weariness and fatigue. The speaker is physically tired from the day's work, and the sound of the apples being loaded into the cellar only adds to his exhaustion.
As the poem progresses, the speaker's thoughts turn to the apples themselves. He says, "For all / That struck the earth, / No matter if not bruised or spiked with stubble, / Went surely to the cider-apple heap / As of no worth." This line is significant because it suggests that the speaker is reflecting on the idea of worth. He is questioning the value of the apples that he has been picking all day. This idea of worth is a recurring theme throughout the poem.
The next few lines of the poem describe the speaker's dreams. He says, "My instep arch not only keeps the ache, / It keeps the pressure of a ladder-round. / I feel the ladder sway as the boughs bend." These lines suggest that the speaker is dreaming about apple picking. He is still thinking about the ladder and the apples, even in his sleep.
The next stanza of the poem is where the speaker's thoughts turn to death. He says, "I cannot rub the strangeness from my sight / I got from looking through a pane of glass / I skimmed this morning from the drinking trough / And held against the world of hoary grass." This stanza is significant because it suggests that the speaker is experiencing a sense of detachment from the world around him. He is looking at the world through a pane of glass, which suggests that he is not fully engaged with it. This detachment is a common theme in Frost's poetry.
The next few lines of the poem describe the speaker's thoughts on death. He says, "It melted, and I let it fall and break. / But I was well / Upon my way to sleep before it fell, / And I could tell / What form my dreaming was about to take." These lines suggest that the speaker is aware of his own mortality. He knows that he is going to die, but he is not afraid of it. He is at peace with the idea of death.
The final stanza of the poem is where the speaker's thoughts turn to poetry. He says, "Magnified apples appear and disappear, / Stem end and blossom end, / And every fleck of russet showing clear. / My instep arch not only keeps the ache, / It keeps the pressure of a ladder-round." These lines suggest that the speaker is reflecting on the idea of poetry. He is comparing the apples to words, and he is suggesting that every word is important. The ladder represents the journey that a poet takes to reach for something higher, something beyond the mundane.
In conclusion, "After Apple Picking" is a masterpiece of Robert Frost's poetry. It is a beautiful reflection on life, death, and the human experience. The poem is full of rich imagery and symbolism, and it is a testament to Frost's mastery of the craft. The ladder, the apples, and the idea of worth are all recurring themes throughout the poem, and they all contribute to the overall message of the poem. This poem is a must-read for anyone who appreciates great poetry.
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