The Theme of Human Relationships in Robert Frost’s Poetry

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Often called the most popular American poet of the twentieth century, Robert Frost achieved a worldwide reputation as a major poet early in his career. He and his family spent three years in England, where he published his first two collections of poetry, A Boy’s Will and North of Boston. Initially uncertain about the reception he would receive in the United States, he returned to New England in 1915 to find that his poetry had gained massive popularity among Americans. Frost’s poetry continues to claim a place in the hearts of today’s readers. If asked to name a poet, many would name Robert Frost. Elementary school children learn “The Road Not Taken” and “Mending Wall”. Frost’s poetry earned and keeps its popularity due to its appeal to a wide range of readers. Even those who don’t often read poetry can find something to enjoy. At first glance, Frost writes simply about nature, but beneath the beautiful imagery lays deeper meaning. Frost uses nature to convey his messages, some of which reflect the ideas of the earlier Romantic writers, such as the love of nature and the distrust of industry. While Robert Frost expresses beliefs shared by writers of the Romantic Period, he also describes his own ideas about love, death, and interpersonal relationships.
Robert Frost, like the Romantics of the nineteenth century, believes in the importance of the imagination. Living in a time of invention and advancement, he appreciates the necessity of creativity to human civilization. Imagination offers a change from the dull, monotonous labor of a factory worker or rural farmer. Frost’s poem “Mending Wall” describes the chore of repairing a broken wall. Two neighbors share the work between them, but one “seizes the particular occasion of mendin...

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...precedence over their selfish needs. The same theme appears in “A Time to Talk”. When the speaker sees a friend approach he goes to speak with him, despite all the work he has left. Friends and family should take priority over other concerns. Helping others and creating strong relationships proves necessary for one’s own health and that of others.
By both elaborating on the ideas of earlier writers and adding ideas of his own, Robert Frost creates a place for himself in history. The themes of his poems remain true regardless of the time period. Modern readers understand the importance of love and imagination that Frost describes. His messages about death and relationships have guided readers for decades. While technology becomes an ever more important part of the modern world, the continued love of Frost’s poetry shows that people still feel a connection to nature.

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