Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening - Poetic Structure and

One theme of this poem is RL 1.2

• The fear of staying too long on someone’s land.

• The pull of sleeping in nature against the pull of sleeping at home.

• The pull of being alone in nature against the pull of responsibility.

• The ability of nature to make a person feel tired and sleepy.

Tags

CCSS.RL.7.2

How does Robert Frost’s use of alliteration affect the meaning of the poem?

• The repeated soft “H” and “sh” and “w” sounds suggest the softly, drifting snow, contributing to the tone of the poem.

• The repeated sounds show where to stop and pause while reading.

• The repeated sounds emphasizes the importance of the words that are repeated.

• The repeated sounds suggest the man's thoughts and feelings, contributing to the mood of the poem.

Tags

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.7.5

How does the figurative language in the following stanza contribute to the meaning of the poem?

He gives his harness bells a shake

To ask if there is some mistake.

The only other sound’s the sweep

Of easy wind and downy flake.

• The use of alliteration creates a connection between this moment in time and the Speaker’s responsibilities.

• The use of metaphor creates a connection between the setting and the tone.

• The use of simile helps develop the reflective tone.

• The use of personification creates a change in the Speaker’s thoughts as it interrupts the quiet introspection.

Tags

CCSS.RL.7.4

What is the purpose of the repetition in the last stanza of the poem:

The woods are lovely, dark and deep,

But I have promises to keep,

And miles to go before I sleep,

And miles to go before I sleep.

• Make the woods seem more attractive and lovely.

• Make the speaker seem like he or she is already asleep.

• Communicate the distance that the speaker must travel before he reaches his destination.

• Communicate an emphasis of the importance of this line to the meaning of the poem.

Tags

CCSS.RL.7.4

Read these lines from the poem:

The woods are lovely, dark and deep,

But I have promises to keep.

What is the effect of the word “but” in the second line?

• It makes it seem like the speaker does not actually like the woods much and wants to leave.

• It makes it seem like the speaker can still keep promises while staying by the woods.

• It makes it seem like the promises the speaker has to keep are lovely, dark, and deep.

• It makes it seem like the speaker has to choose between keeping promises and the lovely woods.

Tags

CCSS.RL.7.4

How does the poem’s rhyme scheme develop its tone?

• The poem follows an aaba aaba aaba aaaa rhyme scheme; this flowing, alternating scheme contributes to the soft, almost lullaby-like quality of tone.

• The poem follows an aaba bbcb ccdc dddd end rhyme scheme; this repetitive rhyme, almost like a chant, contributes to the soft, almost lullaby-like quality of tone.

• The poem is composed of rhyming stanzas (i.e. AAAA BBBB CCCC DDDD; this consistent, almost blocky rhyme contributes to the solemn tone.

• The poem is composed of rhyming couplets, creating a musical diction and beat; this contributes to the playful tone.

Tags

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.7.5

What effect does the description of the Speaker’s location in stanza 2 “ between the woods and frozen lake”have on the meaning of the poem?

• The description of the woods and frozen lake suggest the poet is lost.

• The description of his location between two natural points suggests that he has a decision he must make.

• The description of the woods and frozen lake suggests that he is in a hurry to go home.

• The description of the woods and frozen lake inspire a mood of fear and foreboding.

Tags

CCSS.L.7.5D

CCSS.RL.7.1

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.7.4

How do the words "he will not see me stopping here" in the opening stanza have contribute to the mood of the poem?

Whose woods these are I think I know.

His house is in the village though;

He will not see me stopping here

To watch his woods fill up with snow.

• These lines suggest a desire to cause mischief and cause trouble since no one will see him.

• The lines suggest a fearful mood because it’s getting dark, and he cannot see another house through the woods.

• The lines suggest a need to be alone and away from others in order to think.

• The lines suggest an anticipation of arriving at his destination.

Tags

CCSS.L.7.5D

CCSS.RL.7.1

CCSS.RL.7.4