Robert Frost is one of America’s most beloved poets. His poetry was largely concerned with the beauty of New England. He loved nature and rural life.
Fun Facts
- Frost was born in 1874, in San Francisco. After his father died when Frost was 11-years-old, his mother moved the family to Massachusetts. His mother died in 1900, leaving Frost an orphan at the age of 16.
- Frost was a successful student in high school and was valedictorian of his class. He went on to study at Dartmouth and Harvard University, but found college uninspiring. He never gained a degree.
- After college, he worked as a shoemaker, teacher, and editor. His real love, though, was writing poetry.
- In 1895, he married Elinor Miriam White. They bought a farm in New Hampshire, but soon discovered that farming wasn’t for them. The couple had six children.
- In 1912, the family moved to England. Here, Robert Frost met several poets who inspired his work. In particular, the poet Ezra Pound became a great support to him. During this time, Frost published two volumes of poetry.
- By the 1920s, Frost had become America’s most beloved poet. He later taught college classes and even read one of his poems at John F. Kennedy’s presidential inauguration. During his lifetime, he received four Pulitzer Prizes; in 1960, he was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal for poetry.
Questions and Answers
Question: Why is Frost’s poetry so popular?
Answer: Frost’s poetry describes beautiful scenes from nature, such as an apple orchard, a farmer’s stone wall, or a man traveling through the woods on a snowy evening. Underneath those pleasing scenes, though, Frost’s poetry has deeper, more complex meaning. His poetry has remained popular because of its layers.
You might read one of his poems when you’re young and think one thing about it. Read it again when you’re older and you’ll likely come away with an entirely different feeling. There’s always something new to learn when you read his poems.
Learn More
Watch a video of Robert Frost reciting his beloved poem, “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening.”
