Stopping by Woods on a snowy evening

Introduction:

    Robert Ftosts works "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening" is one of the Frosts most discussed works, which is still shrouded with mystery. The rich imagery combined with the calm stanzas give the reader and an eereie glimpse into the speaker's decision to pause by an enticing snowy patch of woods. The tranquil unhurried flow the poem also give the reader a soft pictures image that with each stanza become a more vivid look into the intriguing thought of the speaker.

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.

    Thr first stanza in the poem allows the reader to notice that the poem being presented is from the speaker's point of view by stating, "Whose woods these are I think I know". The poem continues through the first stanza as the speaker stop his horse drawn carriage to peer into the deep and dark woods covered in the innocents of snow. The captivating sight of the dark woods covered in the innocent white snow compels the speaker to stop and ponder which also intrigues  the reader to consider the reason for the unexpected stop. Maybe he stopped to admire the peaceful silence of the woods, where none of the ordinary limitations of the world seem to apply or maybe he stopped to take his mind off of some uneasy thought.

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.

     The second stanza of the poem encroaches upon the reader with the sense that the poem may not be as innocent and calm as it began. This stanza begins with the speaker beginning to wonder what the horse may be contemplating on such an inexcusable stop. The speaker thus, begins to hint at the idea that he has some distance left to travel, considering he is between the "Woods and the frozen lake." The speaker also states that it is "The darkest evening of the year" which could be a description of the winter solstice on December twenty-second. 

      Another point of view considered, could be that since he is trapped between the "woods and the frozen lake" on "the darkest evening of the year" he might be at a low point in his life or possibly something terrible has recently happened around this time.

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 third stanza of the poem opens with "He gives his harness bells a shake To ask if there is some mistake." The speaker describing the horse gives the reader the understanding of how perplexing his stop by the woods must be considering the horse is attempting to draw the speaker back to the task at hand. However, the speaker still overwhelmed by the sight of the woods continues unfazed by the horse and states "The only other sounds the sweep of easy wind and downy flake."