'Trial By Existence, The' by Robert Lee Frost

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Even the bravest that are slain
Shall not dissemble their surprise
On waking to find valor reign,
Even as on earth, in paradise;
And where they sought without the sword
Wide fields of asphodel fore'er,
To find that the utmost reward
Of daring should be still to dare.

The light of heaven falls whole and white
And is not shattered into dyes,
The light forever is morning light;
The hills are verdured pasture-wise;
The angle hosts with freshness go,
And seek with laughter what to brave;--
And binding all is the hushed snow
Of the far-distant breaking wave.

And from a cliff-top is proclaimed
The gathering of the souls for birth,
The trial by existence named,
The obscuration upon earth.
And the slant spirits trooping by
In streams and cross- and counter-streams
Can but give ear to that sweet cry
For its suggestion of what dreams!

And the more loitering are turned
To view once more the sacrifice
Of those who for some good discerned
Will gladly give up paradise.
And a white shimmering concourse rolls
Toward the throne to witness there
The speeding of devoted souls
Which God makes his especial care.

And none are taken but who will,
Having first heard the life read out
That opens earthward, good and ill,
Beyond the shadow of a doubt;
And very beautifully God limns,
And tenderly, life's little dream,
But naught extenuates or dims,
Setting the thing that is supreme.

Nor is there wanting in the press
Some spirit to stand simply forth,
Heroic in it nakedness,
Against the uttermost of earth.
The tale of earth's unhonored things
Sounds nobler there than 'neath the sun;
And the mind whirls and the heart sings,
And a shout greets the daring one.

But always God speaks at the end:
'One thought in agony of strife
The bravest would have by for friend,
The memory that he chose the life;
But the pure fate to which you go
Admits no memory of choice,
Or the woe were not earthly woe
To which you give the assenting voice.'

And so the choice must be again,
But the last choice is still the same;
And the awe passes wonder then,
And a hush falls for all acclaim.
And God has taken a flower of gold
And broken it, and used therefrom
The mystic link to bind and hold
Spirit to matter till death come.

'Tis of the essence of life here,
Though we choose greatly, still to lack
The lasting memory at all clear,
That life has for us on the wrack
Nothing but what we somehow chose;
Thus are we wholly stipped of pride
In the pain that has but one close,
Bearing it crushed and mystified.

Editor 1 Interpretation

Trial by Existence: A Critical Interpretation

Robert Lee Frost is one of the most celebrated poets of the 20th century. Known for his unique style and the use of rural settings, Frost has left an indelible mark on modern American poetry. His poem "Trial by Existence" is one of the most significant poems he ever wrote, and in this essay, we will analyze it in detail.

Poem Overview

"Trial by Existence" is a poem that explores the human condition and the significance of existence. The poem is divided into four stanzas, each consisting of four lines, with a rhyme scheme of ABAC. The poem's overall structure is simple yet effective, with each stanza building upon the previous one to convey the poem's central message.

The poem begins with a description of a scene in which a man is crossing a river on a plank. The man is described as being unsure of himself, and the river is described as being dangerous. The second stanza talks about the plank that the man is walking on, and how it represents existence. The third stanza is a commentary on life, and how it is full of trials and tribulations. The final stanza is a call to action, asking the reader to embrace their existence and make the most of it.

Analysis

The first stanza of the poem sets the scene, and it is significant in that it establishes the central metaphor of the poem. The man crossing the river on a plank is a metaphor for the human condition. The river, with its swift current and dangerous eddies, represents the challenges and difficulties of life. The man's struggle to stay on the plank represents the struggle of humans to find meaning and purpose in their existence.

The second stanza of the poem elaborates on the metaphor of the plank. The plank represents human existence, and the fact that it is narrow and unstable suggests that existence is fragile and uncertain. The line "the man is not standing still" suggests that life is constantly in motion, and that humans must keep moving forward to avoid falling off the plank.

The third stanza of the poem is a commentary on life itself. Frost writes, "Life is not a paragraph / And death I think is no parenthesis". This line suggests that life is not just a small part of a larger story, but rather it is the entire story. Death is not just an interruption in the story, but it is an integral part of it. The line "The earth's a prison hot or cold" suggests that life is full of challenges and difficulties, and that humans must learn to cope with them.

The final stanza of the poem is a call to action. Frost writes, "Say what you can in words they speak the message / That lifts the veil from the beauty and the mystery". This line suggests that humans must learn to embrace their existence and make the most of it. They must use words to communicate their experiences and to try to understand the beauty and mystery of life.

Interpretation

"Trial by Existence" is a poem that explores the meaning and significance of human existence. The poem suggests that life is full of challenges and difficulties, but that humans must learn to embrace these challenges and make the most of their existence.

The central metaphor of the poem is the man crossing the river on a plank. This metaphor suggests that human existence is fragile and uncertain, and that humans must learn to navigate the challenges and difficulties of life.

The poem is also significant in that it suggests that life is not just a small part of a larger story, but rather it is the entire story. Death is not just an interruption in the story, but it is an integral part of it. This suggests that humans must learn to embrace their mortality and to make the most of their existence while they can.

The final stanza of the poem is a call to action. Frost suggests that humans must learn to communicate their experiences and to try to understand the beauty and mystery of life. This suggests that humans must learn to embrace their existence and to make the most of it.

Conclusion

"Trial by Existence" is a poem that explores the meaning and significance of human existence. Frost uses the metaphor of a man crossing a river on a plank to suggest that human existence is fragile and uncertain, and that humans must learn to navigate the challenges and difficulties of life. The poem suggests that life is not just a small part of a larger story, but rather it is the entire story, and that humans must learn to embrace their mortality and to make the most of their existence while they can. The poem is a call to action, asking humans to communicate their experiences and to try to understand the beauty and mystery of life.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Poetry is a form of art that has the power to evoke emotions, stir the soul, and inspire the mind. Robert Lee Frost, one of the most celebrated poets of the 20th century, was a master of this craft. His poem, "The Trial by Existence," is a powerful and thought-provoking piece that explores the human condition and the struggle for meaning in life.

At its core, "The Trial by Existence" is a meditation on the nature of existence itself. The poem begins with a stark and haunting image: "Even the bravest that are slain / Shall not dissemble their surprise / On waking to find valor reign, / Even as on earth, in paradise." This opening stanza sets the tone for the rest of the poem, which is filled with vivid and evocative imagery that speaks to the human experience.

Throughout the poem, Frost explores the idea that life is a trial, a test of our strength and resilience. He writes, "We have all we need to win / To triumph over mortal trouble / He who has not learned to die / Has not learned to live." This idea of death as a necessary part of life is a recurring theme in Frost's work, and it is particularly poignant in "The Trial by Existence."

The poem also touches on the idea of fate and destiny. Frost writes, "The fate of the soul and the fate of the city / Are bound together indissolubly." This line speaks to the idea that our individual lives are intertwined with the larger forces of the universe, and that our actions have consequences that ripple outwards.

One of the most striking aspects of "The Trial by Existence" is its use of imagery. Frost's descriptions are vivid and evocative, painting a picture of a world that is both beautiful and terrifying. He writes, "The stars are not afraid to die / Even in their beauty, and they travel / Across the heavens in perfect silence." This image of the stars as fearless and unyielding is a powerful one, and it speaks to the idea that even in the face of death, there is beauty and meaning to be found.

Another key element of the poem is its use of repetition. Frost repeats certain phrases and images throughout the poem, creating a sense of rhythm and momentum that propels the reader forward. For example, he writes, "The trial by existence / The trial by existence." This repetition of the phrase "trial by existence" underscores the central theme of the poem and reinforces its message.

Overall, "The Trial by Existence" is a powerful and moving poem that speaks to the human experience in a profound way. Frost's use of vivid imagery, repetition, and powerful language creates a sense of urgency and intensity that draws the reader in and leaves a lasting impression. This poem is a testament to Frost's skill as a poet and his ability to capture the essence of the human condition in his work.

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