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Task Analysis on Robert Frost “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening” The utilizes words to describe the appearance of the woods. This description is presented in form of monologue in which the author’s thoughts are brought out to the reader in a simple and clear language for quick comprehension. The words used by the author are simple and direct and help the reader in understanding the circumstances that surround the setting in which the author is in. The words “The only other sound’s the sweep/ of easy wind and downy flake” (11-12) describe the environment in which the author was in as being quiet and peaceful.
The speaker does not provide the reader with more explanation regarding what makes the place an interesting one. However, the directness with which the words are utilized ensures that the reader understands and is left with questions regarding what the speaker does.Despite the words of the poem being clear and simple, the author does not present comprehensive description of the place. The speaker in the poem simply states the thoughts in the mind and does not provide explanations. Though the speaker presents the thoughts of the horse, this remains the speaker’s thoughts, as the horse does not speak.
In the words, “My little horse must think it queer/ to stop without a farmhouse near/ between the woods and frozen lake” (5-7), the idea of stopping in the dark woods is indeed unusual, but the speaker presents this as a thought of the horse and not his own. This is an indication of the beauty and peace of the environment, which creates confusion in the speaker’s mind, and even causes the horse to experience similar thoughts. Repetition presents an opportunity for emphasis on a fundamental point that the speaker is communicating to the audience.
By saying, “But I have promises to keep/ and miles to go before I sleep/ and miles to go before I sleep” (14-16), the repetition at the end of the poem is meant to emphasize on the promises that the speaker must keep. This promise appears to have been made relatively significant based on the repetition. Having alluded the speaker’s indecisiveness regarding resting or continuing with the journey, this repetition serves to emphasize on these two aspects. The last lines emphasize on the fundamental focus of the poem relating to why the speaker is resting, and why he finds the woods captivating resulting in his consideration to rest.
The second line is meant to be understood differently from the first one since there as two promises that the speaker must keep before sleeping, but can only accomplish one. The reader is supposed to determine what the speaker must have done, creating suspense in the poem. Works CitedFrost, Robert, Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening.
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