Running head: POEM ANALYSIS

Poem Analysis Jenna Hodge Hondros College Nursing School ENG 250 C

POEM ANALYSIS Poem Analysis

In the poem, Nothing Gold Can Stay by Robert Frost, he uses various sorts of elements throughout his writing to illuminate his theory that most all things in nature experience some sort of change. Throughout this poem, he presents that the change starts at the beginning of somethings existence. Frost in this example uses both symbolism and imagery to display how imperative youthful events transform from the beginning of its formation. Frost uses nature imagery pretty heavily in this poem. Line one states, Natures first green is gold. In nature, as vegetation starts to bloom, it presents a golden-hue. Presenting also that certain things start as gold or perfection. Frost may also be using gold to portray that intertwined with the beginning start of life, is the decline of that very same life. Robert Frost is in a very real way suggesting to his audience to picture plants in the youngest stages of their evolution. By connecting the mental imagery of plants in the youngest stages of their lives, Frost is linking the point that the time of youth is an individuals most dazzling period in their life for they are blooming into the person they will become. In the second line, Robert Frost writes, her hardest hue to hold. This gives the reader the likelihood of mentally picturing a flower that is wilting away, but taking note of the splendor within the color of the browning. Line three and four state; Early leafs a flower, but only so an hour. This could be representing that the initial stage of anything that is charming, but putting emphasis that these alluring appearances fade quickly. The use of the early leaf leads me to believe Frost is comparing this to the state of youthfulness. This gives way to an idea of all things are in constant change.

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In line five, Frost wrote, Then leaf subsides to leaf. With Frosts use of repetition about the leaf, this leaves me with the belief that the leaf lasts much longer than any other part, even beyond the short bloom of the flower. In turn, I interpreted this as the presentation of something might transform, but there are pieces of it that may go on to stay the same. By writing leaf subsides to leaf, Frost uses this to propose the probability of deterioration. One can only assume that Frost is again implying that youthfulness is assuredly influenced by aging. So sun goes down to day, is line seven in Frosts poem. This line takes the concentration from seasons to a short day. One can interpret this as meaning, there is nothing in life that is permanent, and we are all part of a life that is a cycle of perpetual change. Even with various changes that last much longer than others. Frost seems to be spotlighting that outward looks/appearances may transform, but this has no implication on the starting value of something. That never changes. By using nature as an evident token of reference for all things living, this is where the nature imagery comes into play. Going back to Frosts use of the word hour within this poem, it leaves me to believe that he is suggesting the progression of time. With the progression of time, certain attributes only remain for duration of time. Things that he may be speaking of could be outward beauty; youthful look and agility. All these things are in fact not guaranteed to have lastingness. The eighth and final line in Frosts poem, Nothing gold can stay concludes the poem. Frost uses this line in attempt to leave the audience/readers with an understanding to cherish and treasure their own youthfulness because they as well wont have said youthfulness forever either. By using sensory type images, Frost understands that these powerful images often elicit feelings. The feelings often force someone to relive or recreate certain encounters, perceptions and emotions. These images also lead us to recall such, by taking these images from an average

POEM ANALYSIS life in amusing and bizarre ways. The overall mood of a poem could be referred to as being the

atmosphere or impression it is creating. Frost cultivated the mood within this piece of writing by meticulously electing images that back the mood. Frost used rhyming to pair up the final syllable of the selected words. The rhyming used in this poem are; gold/hold, flower/hour, leaf/grief, day/stay. Frost uses repetition in various forms throughout Nothing Gold Can Stay as a basic merger in his poetry. With the use of alliteration, the repetition of consonant sounds, especially at the beginning of words (DiYanni, Glossary), Frost delivers, So dawn goes down to day. He again uses a repetition when he uses the same word at the initial start of his lines on four total different occasions. Reading the poem, Nothing Gold Can Stay, can help the reader better-appreciate the amusing things in our real-world with a heightened understanding and help us cope with the unwanted things with greater imagination. Frost primarily is working to illustrate the effervescence of youthfulness but also puts emphasis on how rapidly it dwindles down. By relating youth to the various items in Mother Nature, Frost seems to describe getting old. Overall, Frost does a good job letting the reader conclude the underlying meaning behind the poem which seems to be that, appearances/outward appearances, degree of wealth, and youth are short-lived. The raw essence of a commodity is immortal and no matter to which degree they age, an individual remains the same individual throughout. Relating back to Frosts naturistic theme, one can make the assumption that a forest continues to be the same forest through each season. Frost subtly is telling the audience that changes in our everyday lives is inescapable and basically crucial for our overall wellbeing. Maybe Frost is attempting to hint at having the

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audience reevaluate and look closely at the modifications in the world surrounding them that are happening every day, every month, and every year. For Frost to be able to get his point across to the reader, there must be some kind of process to assist a poet orchestrate their writing. Frost in my opinion accentuates feelings and ideas with the use of sound. The use of sound can encompass various rhythmic patterns, certain types of rhymes, and different forms of repetition. It is of no secret that this poem is short; hailing eight lines total. With a poem of short composure, it is obvious that Frost is deliberately using as little words as feasible to portray his ideations and emotions. Its of no mistake that Frost uses a vibrant vocabulary when selecting words for the small poem to ensure he is conveyed appropriately.

POEM ANALYSIS Reference

Hawthorne, N. (2008). Literature Approaches To Fiction, Poetry, and Drama. Nothing Gold Can Stay (pg. 631). 2nd Ed. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill. Hawthorne, N. (2008). Literature Approaches To Fiction, Poetry, and Drama. Nothing Gold Can Stay (glossary). 2nd Ed. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.