Bill Meyer
EGL 102
Prof Prinz
Stopping By The Woods On A Snowy Evening
The poem, “Stopping By The Woods On A Snowy Evening” by Robert Frost has been
quoted many times, and is one of the most fascinating poems of the twentieth century.
Robert frost brings out the questionable, and somewhat strange aspects of humanity
through a short annecdote. There isn’t much to the poem, simply a man traveling through
some snowy woods on the darkest evening of the year, but the imagery and connotations of
the piece make it what it is.
The poem starts off be describing a man stopping by a villager’s wooded property, which is
seen as odd to his horse. He spends time taking in the scenery, then remarks, “But I have
promises to keep, And miles to go before I sleep” Those last lines are what makes this
poem admirable. The narrator wants to take his time marveling at the scenery. But he
cannot, as he has miles to go before he sleeps and promises that prevent him from doing
so.
But why are these lines so significant? One may compare it to life, in that one may come
upon bad times. Some where they cannot see the light of day. They may want to end it, but
they have promises and obligations that prevent them from doing so. They realize that they