Stopping By Woods On A Snowy Evening
Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village, though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound’s the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.The woods are lovely, dark, and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.-Robert Frost
I’m a huge sucker for Robert Frost. I don’t understand if I am supposed to interpret this for myself and figure out what it means for me, or if I am to figure out the authors original intent, or both! I wanted to describe what I have learned and what it means to me, though this may be utterly boring for everyone else.
When I read a poem I always start with a direct, literal, reading. I believe Frost intended much in this poem to be interpreted literally. The man rides a horse, stops at a location between a wide open lake and a forest, stares off into the forest, perhaps to appreciate its beauty. The horse is confused and wants to get home. The man then snaps out of it, realizes he has to get home because he has responsibilities and obligations.
Even in the literal interpretation there is much! Neuroscientists call it “Dual Representation”, phenomenologists call it “Categorical Intentions”; either way it is what separates us humans from other animals. The appreciation of beauty, the attaching of meaning to things that are commonplace, or different – for example: a child pretending a stick is actually sword, people attributing to certain objects specific meanings, like an engagement ring – I only had to type the word “engagement ring” and a host of images, ideas, preconceptions flooded into your mind!
That’s partially what is being demonstrated here. The man appreciates the forest, the “deep”, “dark”, “lovely” forest. He is compelled to stop for a minute and appreciate the beauty that stands before him, especially as the snow piles. The peace and tranquility that is the quiet sounds of snow falling and the light breeze is refreshing. The horse, on the other hand, cannot compute such beauty. The horse wants his stable, shelter and warmth, some straw to sleep on; there is no appreciation of beauty there. “What is that guy on my back doing? Is he confused? Why stop? Do he hear something? This is most unusual! Maybe I should let him know that he is confused. I’ll shake my bells.”
The bells remind the man that he has obligations elsewhere. Thus, the reason for the first time he says “and miles to go before I sleep”.
Then the figurative, rich with meaning! I have looked up other peoples opinions: professors, amateurs, connoisseurs, etc… I saw none of what they did. I will here describe what I see.
The man stops between a frozen lake and a forest. A perfect analogy nature has set up for him, describing to him his life as it was, his life now, and his life as it will be.
He has been through much. The man is midway through his life. He looks back and sees the empty, open, expanse that is the frozen lake. He can see clearly across the scene. He has been through all of that, he knows what was there. He was born behind that horizon, him and his animal companion, his “little horse”, the animalistic representation of life itself, have travelled long to get here. Life appreciates no beauty, it is blind to such thing. Man has evolved on its back for the little time it spends there. Man arrives at a point where he stops to reflect on how far and long he has travelled.
The man takes a look forward and reflects at what he cannot see past. He might be able to see through a few trees, but not too far ahead. He might expect a warm meal waiting for him tonight, but beyond that, it is not within his foresight. He does not know where it ends, he can only see through to a few trees, after all. He stares. Hearing no sounds except for soft nature, and viewing the rough terrain that lies in front of him, he wonders to himself how far that forest runs, what lies behind the next row of trees. A curious question that haunts all men, to be sure, but still, if only he can get the right angle—
Ring ring….
“—Ah yes, the horse, my responsibilities, I have a long way to go before I get home, … and miles to go before my sleep eternal.”
