'Home Burial' by Robert Frost
AI and Tech Aggregator
Download Mp3s Free
Tears of the Kingdom Roleplay
Best Free University Courses Online
TOTK Roleplay
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 those.
But I understand: it is not the stones,
But the child's mound ----"
"Don't, don't, don't,
don't," she cried.
She withdrew, shrinking from beneath his arm
That rested on the banister, and slid downstairs;
And turned on him with such a daunting look,
He said twice over before he knew himself:
"Can't a man speak of his own child he's lost?"
"Not you! -- Oh, where's my hat? Oh, I don't need it!
I must get out of here. I must get air.--
I don't know rightly whether any man can."
"Amy! Don't go to someone else this time.
Listen to me. I won't come down the stairs."
He sat and fixed his chin between his fists.
"There's something I should like to ask you, dear."
"You don't know how to ask it."
"Help me, then."
Her fingers moved the latch for all reply.
"My words are nearly always an offense.
I don't know how to speak of anything
So as to please you. But I might be taught,
I should suppose. I can't say I see how.
A man must partly give up being a man
With womenfolk. We could have some arrangement
By which I'd bind myself to keep hands off
Anything special you're a-mind to name.
Though I don't like such things 'twixt those that love.
Two that don't love can't live together without them.
But two that do can't live together with them."
She moved the latch a little. "Don't -- don't go.
Don't carry it to someone else this time.
Tell me about it if it's something human.
Let me into your grief. I'm not so much
Unlike other folks as your standing there
Apart would make me out. Give me my chance.
I do think, though, you overdo it a little.
What was it brought you up to think it the thing
To take your mother-loss of a first child
So inconsolably -- in the face of love.
You'd think his memory might be satisfied ----"
"There you go sneering now!"
"I'm not, I'm not!
You make me angry. I'll come down to you.
God, what a woman! And it's come to this,
A man can't speak of his own child that's dead."
"You can't because you don't know how to speak.
If you had any feelings, you that dug
With your own hand -- how could you? -- his little grave;
I saw you from that very window there,
Making the gravel leap and leap in air,
Leap up, like that, like that, and land so lightly
And roll back down the mound beside the hole.
I thought, Who is that man? I didn't know you.
And I crept down the stairs and up the stairs
To look again, and still your spade kept lifting.
Then you came in. I heard your rumbling voice
Out in the kitchen, and I don't know why,
But I went near to see with my own eyes.
You could sit there with the stains on your shoes
Of the fresh earth from your own baby's grave
And talk about your everyday concerns.
You had stood the spade up against the wall
Outside there in the entry, for I saw it."
"I shall laugh the worst laugh I ever laughed.
I'm cursed. God, if I don't believe I'm cursed."
"I can repeat the very words you were saying:
'Three foggy mornings and one rainy day
Will rot the best birch fence a man can build.'
Think of it, talk like that at such a time!
What had how long it takes a birch to rot
To do with what was in the darkened parlour?
You couldn't care! The nearest friends can go
With anyone to death, comes so far short
They might as well not try to go at all.
No, from the time when one is sick to death,
One is alone, and he dies more alone.
Friends make pretense of following to the grave,
But before one is in it, their minds are turned
And making the best of their way back to life
And living people, and things they understand.
But the world's evil. I won't have grief so
If I can change it. Oh, I won't, I won't!"
"There, you have said it all and you feel better.
You won't go now. You're crying. Close the door.
The heart's gone out of it: why keep it up?
Amyl There's someone coming down the road!"
"You -- oh, you think the talk is all. I must go --
Somewhere out of this house. How can I make you ----"
"If -- you -- do!" She was opening the door wider.
"Where do you mean to go? First tell me that.
I'll follow and bring you back by force. I will! --"
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Intense Emotions of Grief and Loss in Robert Frost’s "Home Burial"
As a literary masterpiece, Robert Frost’s "Home Burial" is a poem that explores the deep and complex emotions of grief and loss. The poem is a dramatic dialogue between a husband and wife who have recently lost their child. In this essay, we will take a close look at the poem and explore its main themes, symbols, and literary devices.
The Theme of Grief and Loss
The main theme of "Home Burial" is the profound grief and loss experienced by the couple. The poem is set in a rural New England farm, and the husband and wife are grieving the loss of their young child. However, the couple is grieving in different ways. The husband is trying to move on and bury the child, while the wife is unable to let go and is consumed by her grief.
As the poem progresses, we see how the couple’s grief has affected their relationship. The husband wants to talk and connect with his wife, but she is emotionally distant and unresponsive. This creates tension and frustration between the two, which is evident in their dialogue.
The Symbolism of the House and the Graveyard
The house and the graveyard are symbolic settings in "Home Burial." The house represents the couple’s shared life and the past memories they have of their child. The graveyard, on the other hand, symbolizes the final resting place of the child and the husband’s desire to bury the past and move on.
Throughout the poem, the couple’s emotions and actions are influenced by their proximity to these symbolic settings. The wife is seen standing by the window, looking out at the graveyard, while the husband is digging the grave outside. The husband’s actions are a symbolic representation of his desire to move on and bury the past, while the wife’s emotions are represented by her lack of movement and inability to let go of the past.
The Use of Literary Devices
Frost’s masterful use of literary devices adds depth and complexity to the poem. The use of dialogue, for example, creates a sense of intimacy between the couple and allows the reader to get a deeper understanding of their emotions and thoughts.
Frost also employs imagery throughout the poem, which helps to paint a vivid picture of the couple’s surroundings and emotional states. The image of the wife standing by the window looking out at the graveyard is a powerful symbol of her inability to move on from her grief.
Another important literary device used in "Home Burial" is the use of repetition. The repetition of certain phrases and words, such as “three foggy mornings and one rainy day,” creates a sense of rhythm and emphasizes the passage of time. This repetition helps to reinforce the theme of sorrow and loss.
The Poem’s Structure and Form
The structure and form of "Home Burial" add to its emotional impact. The poem is written in free verse, which allows for a natural and organic flow of dialogue and imagery. The lack of a specific rhyme scheme or meter adds to the poem’s sense of raw emotion and authenticity.
Frost’s use of stanzas also helps to create a sense of structure and progression in the poem. Each stanza represents a different moment or interaction between the couple, and the stanzas build on each other to create a sense of tension and climax.
The Significance of the Title
The title of the poem, "Home Burial," is significant in several ways. Firstly, it emphasizes the intimate and personal nature of the couple’s grief. The burial is taking place in their own backyard, and they are the only ones present.
Secondly, the title suggests that the couple is burying more than just their child. They are also burying their past and their relationship, as they struggle to come to terms with their grief and move on.
Conclusion
In conclusion, "Home Burial" is a powerful and haunting depiction of grief and loss. Frost’s masterful use of literary devices and symbolism creates a vivid and emotional picture of the couple’s grief and their struggle to connect with each other.
The poem’s structure and form add to its sense of raw emotion and authenticity, while the title emphasizes the intimate and personal nature of the couple’s grief. "Home Burial" is a timeless masterpiece that continues to resonate with readers today, as it captures the universal human experience of loss and the profound emotions that come with it.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Home Burial: A Masterpiece of Robert Frost
Robert Frost is one of the most celebrated poets of the 20th century, and his poem Home Burial is a masterpiece that showcases his exceptional talent. The poem is a dramatic dialogue between a husband and wife who have lost their child, and it explores the themes of grief, communication, and the breakdown of a marriage. In this article, we will analyze and explain the poem in detail, highlighting its key elements and the emotions it evokes.
The poem begins with the wife, Amy, watching her husband, the farmer, from the window as he works in the fields. She is grieving the loss of their child, who has been buried in a nearby cemetery. The opening lines of the poem set the tone for the rest of the dialogue, as Amy's thoughts are consumed by her loss:
"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."
The imagery in these lines is powerful, as Frost creates a sense of tension and uncertainty. The husband's perspective is not revealed until later in the poem, and the reader is left to wonder what he is thinking and feeling. The use of the word "fear" suggests that Amy is anxious about something, and this sets the stage for the conflict that will unfold.
As the dialogue progresses, it becomes clear that the couple is struggling to communicate with each other. The husband tries to comfort Amy, but his efforts are met with anger and frustration. Amy accuses him of not caring about their child's death, and she resents his ability to continue working as if nothing has happened:
"You could sit there with the stains on your shoes Of the fresh earth from your own baby's grave And talk about your everyday concerns."
This line is particularly poignant, as it highlights the contrast between the husband's practicality and Amy's emotional turmoil. The fact that he has "stains on his shoes" from the burial is a reminder of the tragedy that has occurred, but he is unable to connect with Amy on an emotional level. This lack of empathy is a major source of tension in their relationship, and it is a theme that runs throughout the poem.
Another key element of the poem is the setting. The couple's home is described in detail, and it becomes a metaphor for their relationship. The stairs that Amy descends at the beginning of the poem are a symbol of the distance between her and her husband, and the fact that she is "starting down" suggests that she is descending into a state of despair. The house itself is described as "an old-fashioned make-believe house," which suggests that their marriage is built on illusions and false pretenses. The fact that it is "out of the way" and "lonely" reinforces the idea that the couple is isolated from the rest of the world, and that they are struggling to cope with their grief on their own.
As the dialogue continues, the couple's emotions become more intense. Amy becomes increasingly angry and resentful, while the husband becomes defensive and dismissive. The climax of the poem comes when Amy reveals that she has been visiting their child's grave every day, and that she has been talking to him as if he were still alive:
"You don't know how to ask it." "Help me, then." "Wait." "I think I know just what you're feeling. But don't you see? So much to do before we sleep. Come, let me put my arms around you. You mustn't mind a little. What—less than a month ago You were my dear Together we laughed—" "But I won't have the nerve—" "My dear, my dear, You come too. It's dangerous to think too much!"
These lines are heartbreaking, as they reveal the depth of Amy's grief and the husband's inability to understand her. The fact that he tries to comfort her, but ultimately fails, is a testament to the breakdown of their marriage. The use of the word "dangerous" suggests that the couple is on the brink of a major crisis, and that their inability to communicate effectively is putting their relationship in jeopardy.
In conclusion, Home Burial is a powerful and moving poem that explores the themes of grief, communication, and the breakdown of a marriage. Robert Frost's use of imagery, setting, and dialogue creates a vivid and emotional portrait of a couple struggling to cope with the loss of their child. The poem is a testament to Frost's exceptional talent as a poet, and it remains a classic of American literature.
Editor Recommended Sites
Anime Roleplay - Online Anime Role playing & rp Anime discussion board: Roleplay as your favorite anime character in your favorite series. RP with friends & Role-Play as Anime HerosCloud Self Checkout: Self service for cloud application, data science self checkout, machine learning resource checkout for dev and ml teams
Data Catalog App - Cloud Data catalog & Best Datacatalog for cloud: Data catalog resources for multi cloud and language models
Flutter consulting - DFW flutter development & Southlake / Westlake Flutter Engineering: Flutter development agency for dallas Fort worth
Business Process Model and Notation - BPMN Tutorials & BPMN Training Videos: Learn how to notate your business and developer processes in a standardized way
Recommended Similar Analysis
Sonnet 12 - Indeed this very love which is my boast by Elizabeth Barrett Browning analysisMorning Song by Sarah Teasdale analysis
From The 'Antigone' by William Butler Yeats analysis
Come Up From The Fields, Father by Walt Whitman analysis
I Ask My Mother To Sing by Li-Young Lee analysis
A Few Crusted Characters: Introduction by Thomas Hardy analysis
The Sleeper by Edgar Allan Poe analysis
I Thought I Was Not Alone by Walt Whitman analysis
The Oven Bird by Robert Frost analysis
your little voice... (I) by e.e. cummings analysis