'Bereft' by Robert Frost
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Where had I heard this wind before
Change like this to a deeper roar?
What would it take my standing there for,
Holding open a restive door,
Looking down hill to a frothy shore?
Summer was past and the day was past.
Sombre clouds in the west were massed.
Out on the porch's sagging floor,
Leaves got up in a coil and hissed,
Blindly striking at my knee and missed.
Something sinister in the tone
Told me my secret my be known:
Word I was in the house alone
Somehow must have gotten abroad,
Word I was in my life alone,
Word I had no one left but God.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Bereft: A Haunting Poem by Robert Frost
Robert Frost is undoubtedly one of the most celebrated poets of the 20th century. His works are known for their vivid imagery, naturalistic themes, and impeccable rhyme schemes. One of his most haunting poems is Bereft, a seemingly simple meditation on grief and loss. Upon closer examination, however, it reveals itself to be a deeply complex and multi-layered work of art.
Summary of Bereft
Bereft is a 16-line poem that describes a winter landscape and the speaker's emotional state. The first stanza sets the scene:
Where had I heard this wind before
Change like this to a deeper roar?
What would it take my standing there for,
Holding open a restive door,
Looking down hill to a frothy shore?
The speaker is standing in a doorway, looking out at the landscape. He hears the wind, which seems to be getting louder and more intense. He wonders what it would take for him to stay there, in that spot, and watch the scene unfold.
The second stanza is more introspective:
Summer was past and the day was past.
Sombre clouds in the west were massed.
Out on the porch's sagging floor,
Leaves got up in a coil and hissed,
Blindly striking at the errant moth
That flicked its wings on the candlecloth.
The speaker reflects on the passing of time and the changing of seasons. He notices the clouds in the west, which suggest that a storm is coming. The leaves on the porch are stirred up by the wind, and the speaker sees a moth fluttering near a candle.
The final stanza brings everything together:
Nothing to look forward to with hope,
Nothing to do but to keep on the march,
Single file down the guessable slope,
And never mind looking down the gap.
We'll know what it is to be alive and sane
When they give us back the summer days.
The speaker laments the absence of hope and purpose in his life. He feels as though he is walking blindly down a slope, with nothing to guide him but his own intuition. He longs for the return of summer, which represents a time of abundance and joy.
Themes in Bereft
Bereft is a poem about grief and loss, but it is also about the passage of time and the fragility of human existence. The speaker is acutely aware of his own mortality, and he feels a sense of despair at the thought of his own inevitable demise. The winter landscape serves as a metaphor for this existential crisis, as the barren trees and darkening skies suggest a world without hope or vitality.
Another important theme in Bereft is the idea of memory and the power of the past. The speaker is haunted by memories of happier times, and he longs for the return of those moments. However, he also recognizes that the past is irretrievable, and that he must find a way to come to terms with his present circumstances.
Finally, Bereft is a poem about the search for meaning and purpose in life. The speaker feels adrift in a world that seems to have lost its sense of direction, and he longs for something to give his life meaning. However, he also recognizes that this search is ultimately futile, and that the only way to find true fulfillment is to accept the inevitability of change and embrace the present moment.
Structure and Form of Bereft
Bereft is a 16-line poem that is divided into three stanzas. The first and second stanzas are quatrains, while the final stanza is a rhymed couplet. The rhyme scheme of the poem is ABAB CDCD EFEF GG, and the meter is predominantly iambic, with occasional variations.
One of the most striking features of the poem is its use of imagery. Frost paints a vivid picture of a winter landscape, with its bare trees, somber clouds, and restless winds. The imagery serves to underscore the speaker's sense of loss and despair, as he contemplates the emptiness of his surroundings.
Another notable feature of the poem is its use of repetition. The phrase "nothing to" appears twice in the final stanza, emphasizing the speaker's sense of hopelessness and resignation. In addition, the repeated use of the word "past" throughout the poem underscores the theme of the passage of time and the power of memory.
Interpretation of Bereft
Bereft is a haunting and deeply moving poem that speaks to the human experience of grief and loss. The winter landscape serves as a powerful metaphor for the speaker's sense of despair, as he confronts the reality of his own mortality and the fleeting nature of life. However, the poem is also about the power of memory and the search for meaning and purpose in life.
At its heart, Bereft is a meditation on the human condition, and the ways in which we make sense of our place in the world. The speaker's sense of loss and longing is something that we can all relate to, as we grapple with the changing tides of fortune and the inevitability of change. However, the poem also offers a sense of hope, as the speaker acknowledges that the only way to find true fulfillment is to accept the present moment and embrace the journey.
In conclusion, Bereft is a masterpiece of modern poetry, encapsulating the human experience of grief, loss, and the search for meaning in life. Its vivid imagery, haunting themes, and impeccable structure make it one of Robert Frost's greatest works, and a timeless meditation on the human experience.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Bereft: 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 captures the essence of nature and human emotions. His poem "Bereft" is a masterpiece that reflects the pain and sorrow of losing a loved one. The poem is a perfect example of Frost's ability to use simple language to convey complex emotions. In this article, we will analyze and explain the poem "Bereft" in detail.
The poem "Bereft" was first published in 1923 in Frost's collection of poems titled "New Hampshire." The poem is written in free verse, which means that it does not follow a specific rhyme scheme or meter. The poem consists of five stanzas, each with four lines. The poem's structure is simple, but the emotions it conveys are profound.
The first stanza of the poem sets the tone for the rest of the poem. The speaker describes a scene where he is standing alone in a field, surrounded by trees. The trees are bare, and the ground is covered with snow. The speaker says, "Where had I heard this wind before / Change like this to a deeper roar?" The wind is a metaphor for the speaker's emotions. The change in the wind's intensity represents the speaker's deepening sorrow. The speaker is trying to find solace in nature, but he cannot escape his grief.
In the second stanza, the speaker describes the trees in more detail. He says, "What tree may not the wind break? / What is it, ye go gather, though / You little spites of us –eh, oh!" The speaker is questioning the fragility of life. He is wondering if anything is immune to the destructive power of the wind. The last line of the stanza, "eh, oh!" is a cry of despair. The speaker is realizing that nothing can protect him from the pain of losing his loved one.
The third stanza is the most emotional part of the poem. The speaker says, "All I have is a voice / To undo the folded lie, / The romantic lie in the brain / Of the sensual man-in-the-street." The speaker is acknowledging that he cannot change the fact that his loved one is gone. He can only use his voice to express his pain and sorrow. The "romantic lie" in the brain of the "sensual man-in-the-street" refers to the idea that love conquers all. The speaker is saying that this idea is a lie. Love cannot conquer death.
In the fourth stanza, the speaker describes the snow-covered ground. He says, "Weep for what little things could make them glad / They were young and their happiness still unmade." The speaker is mourning the loss of his loved one's potential. He is imagining all the things that could have made his loved one happy if they had lived longer. The line "they were young and their happiness still unmade" is particularly poignant. It highlights the tragedy of a life cut short.
The final stanza of the poem is a reflection on the speaker's own mortality. He says, "But I, too, am a witness of the scene / Which, with this being done, / Will have been to me, and will always be, / The landscape of the heart." The speaker is acknowledging that he will also die one day. He is saying that the scene he is witnessing will always be a part of him. The "landscape of the heart" refers to the emotional impact that the loss of his loved one has had on him.
In conclusion, "Bereft" is a powerful poem that captures the pain and sorrow of losing a loved one. Frost's use of simple language and metaphors makes the poem accessible to everyone. The poem's structure is simple, but the emotions it conveys are complex. The poem is a testament to Frost's ability to capture the essence of human emotions in his writing. "Bereft" is a masterpiece that will continue to resonate with readers for generations to come.
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