Analysis--"Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening" by Robert Frost

Independent Reading Post
Dimension: Analysis
Text: "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening" by Robert Frost
      On the surface, this poem is about how the narrator is on a journey in the middle of winter, specifically on the solstice, and sees a field where snow is falling. He stops and admires the snow and takes in the silence for a minute or two, then realizes that he has many miles to travel before he can go to sleep.
      The theme of this poem is that distractions, when keeping one from proceeding, should not be given attention. This theme is supported in the text by the snowy woods symbolizing the distraction. The narrator is distracted, and therefore momentarily does not continue. The horse in the poem is used to symbolize wisdom and the correct choice, as he all along tells the narrator to continue. When the author states, "And miles to go before I sleep," The distance he still must travel symbolizes the rest of his life and the time when he can sleep represents death. He realizes that life is not over and he cannot give up and refuse to perform the tedious labors of life, so he decides to keep going.
      Another symbol in this poem is the woods and its foil, the village. The village represents civilization and the responsibilities that come with it. The main conflict in this poem is an internal conflict; the narrator must fight with the opposing forces of the responsibility to move onward and the temptation to stay at the woods.
      There is also the less emphasized conflict that the owner of the house might find the narrator on his land, which the author quickly resolves by stating "He will no see me stopping here." If the author elaborated more on this, it would clarify why he is able to stop there. However, this would take away from the main conflict. It would also lessen the mystery of the poem.