My Analysis of Robert Frost's Poem "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening" From a Christian Perspective

Jesus said in John 3:19, “Men love darkness rather than light because their deeds are evil” (King James Version). Because of mankind’s sin nature, every person will face the strong, tempting pull toward the darkness of evil. The struggle between good and evil is universal, and every individual must decide whether he or she will yield to the dangerous allure of sin. 

Thesis

In his poem “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening,” Robert Frost uses vivid imagery, a significant rhyme scheme, and rich symbolism to creatively express the difficult choice the speaker of the poem has to make between fulfilling his duties or yielding to the temptation to stop and enjoy the dark, snowy scene.

Imagery

Frost’s poem is filled with imagery. The speaker’s words paint pictures in the reader’s mind so that the scene can be easily imagined. 

For example, the speaker stops on another man’s property “To watch his woods fill up with snow” (Frost, 1923, line 4). This phrase suggests a picture of snow falling on the trees in the forest as well as the feeling of how pleasant a thing that might be to watch.

Next the speaker mentions his “little horse” (Frost, 1923, line 5), and the reader can now picture the speaker riding in a horse-drawn sleigh or wagon while watching the snow fall. Line 8 of the poem is especially vivid as the speaker reveals that this event takes place on “The darkest evening of the year” (Frost, 1923). 

Rhyme Scheme

In “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening,” Frost uses a very significant rhyme scheme that helps to convey the meaning of the poem. 

The poem’s rhyme scheme is aaba bbcb ccdc dddd. 

The end rhyme of the first, second, and fourth lines of the second stanza match the end rhyme of the third line of the first stanza. 

In the same way, the first, second, and fourth lines in the third stanza exhibit the same end rhyme as the third line from the second stanza (Frost, 1923). 

This indicates that during the first three stanzas of the poem, the speaker is hesitant. Just as the rhyme of the third line in stanzas two and three looks back to a line in the stanza before it, the speaker is also struggling with the temptation to keep looking back at the snowy woods rather than to continue moving forward on his journey. 

The fact that this pattern changes in the final stanza is also significant. No longer does the end rhyme of the third line point back to the previous stanza. This change is quite significant because it is at this point in the poem that the speaker makes the choice to keep his promises and shows determination to continue going on his way (Frost, 1923, lines 13-16).   

Symbolism

While “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening” can certainly be enjoyed at face value as a simple poem about a man’s desire to stop and enjoy nature, a closer analysis reveals interesting symbolism and perhaps even a deeper allegorical meaning. 

The woods mentioned in the title and in lines 1, 4, 7, and 13 could represent the pleasant beauty of nature. However, the woods could also symbolize a dangerous place. To be lost in the woods could symbolize being lost in sin. Stopping to enjoy such dangerous, sinful pleasures could result in danger and even death. 

The theme of darkness is repeated in the poem in lines 8 and 13 (Frost, 1923). The speaker says, “The woods are lovely, dark and deep” (Frost, 1923, line 13). It is the very darkness of the woods that make them seem so lovely and so alluring to the speaker.

This is reminiscent of Jesus’ observation that “men love darkness” in John 3:19 (KJV) mentioned earlier. Darkness in this poem could symbolize sin and evil, danger, and temptation.  

Finally, in the iconic final two lines of the poem in which the speaker says, “And miles to go before I sleep/And miles to go before I sleep” (Frost, 1923, lines 15-16), sleep symbolizes pleasure, a sense of release from obligations, and possibly even death.

Conclusion

“Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening” by Robert Frost is a poem about the choice everyone must make between diligence and idleness, light and darkness, and, ultimately, good and evil. 

Frost effectively communicates the meaning of this poem using imagery that transports the reader to the snowy scene, a rhyme scheme that reflects the speaker’s inner struggle, and interesting symbolism that deepen and enrich an otherwise simple poem. 

When read from the perspective of a Christian believer, this poem is a reminder to remain diligent in fighting against the temptation to be idle. Proverbs 6:10-11 warns, “Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man” (KJV). 

The idle pleasures of sin may seem appealing to one’s flesh, but stopping to enjoy them will only lead to peril, loss, and eternal death. Like the speaker in the poem, a Christian has “promises to keep” (Frost, 1923, line 14) and faithful service to render to God, or “miles to go” (Frost, 1923, lines 15-16), before the time comes to sleep in death.

Important Note: As a published work on this blog, this poetry analysis is covered by copyright.  I share this analysis here for the purpose of enrichment as well as to give an example of  what a scholarly poetry analysis looks like. If you are a student assigned to analyze this particular poem, I caution you VERY STRONGLY against copying any ideas or text from this post for your assignment. Not only is plaigarism unethical, it can cost you your grade at the least and often results in serious disciplinary action from your school. If you are struggling with an assignment, I urge you to 1. Pray about it and 2. Contact your teacher/professor for help.