“Here were the eyes of death, and a man who was looking in them for the first times.” (GEORGE AELIOT, Middlemarch). Robert Frost’s “Birches” poem is a complex piece that explores the concept life. This piece of writing has many figurative elements that force the reader to look beyond the words. Frost uses a variety of literacy devices to create a narrative that recreates a life-changing event.
Frost begins with the central image, letting the reader see what’s coming. “Birches” has a free verse that uses the prevailing Iambic foot. The poem is visually limited to one selection. However, the five sections are broken down into sections according both to the speaker’s ideas and changes in the topic. These breaks are not obvious to the reader immediately. Instead, they are dependent upon the reader understanding the poem. The poem starts by providing background information, and continues to line five where it presents the truth. Paradox later makes this truth fiction. The truth is followed by fiction. Frost presents the reality and then connects the speaker to previous lines. Finally, Frost resolves the speaker’s feelings. Frost makes extreme use of contrast to show that Frost’s poetry depicts a speaker who must choose between rationality or imagination. They cannot exist simultaneously.
The title, “Birches”, introduces readers to the controlling metaphor. The birches serve as a symbolic representation of the speaker’s childhood. They also help him remember his youth (Frost, 42). The controlling metaphor is unfolded by him literally throughout the poem. Frost presents Frost’s conflict to the speaker by the title. Frost is concerned that the speaker wants to use birches as a way to go back into his childhood. He has lived a very lonely and terrible life. The poem is only the beginning of the poems that reveal more about the speaker.
Frost doesn’t give direct clues to the reader that Frost has indicated that the speaker of the poem is an older male. Frost gives the reader information to conclude that Frost is a man of older age by having the speaker speak “So was myself a swinger, of birches; so I dream of returning to being” (Frost 41 and 42). This reveals that Frost is a boy and reveals the gender of the speaker. He was unhappy and regretful, dreaming of a happier life. Frost, 26. His childhood was not happy. He also lived his whole life as a single man “some boy far from the town to learn Baseball” (Frost. 25)…. “Could have played alone”(Frost. 27). The poem gives us more insight into the inner battles of this man. This paradox reveals his conflicted mind.
The background information in this section, “Birches”, is provided because the reader will need it to understand the rest. The visual imagery of “I See Birches Bend to Left and Right” (Frost.1) is illustrated by an example “darker Trees” (Frost.2). The first section provides two sets (left and right) of opposites (Frost. 1 and Frost. 1-2), that are combined to present the reader with the main conflict of the speaker’s existence. This section also represents contrast. It examines an image, speculates on why it is bent, and then decides which truth is being told. These are just the beginning of all the literacy devices that can be used. They also lead us to a paradox.
The paradox’s beginning is found in the second portion of Frost’s poem. Frost begins the poem by telling us the truth about why the trees are bent. (Frost 5-6). However, later we find out that this “truth” is actually fiction. You will find many imagery examples in this section. These include sound imagery about how the tree branch branches “click upon their own” (Frost 7) and sexual imagery when Frost uses “like girls, on hands and knees, who throw their hair behind them to dry in the sunlight” (Frost, 19- 20). Frost uses sexual imagery to describe intimate experiences in the poem. Frost uses similes when comparing the trees with the “girls on knees” (Frost 9,). This section, as the rest, is packed with literacy devices.
“Truth” is capitalized (Frost 21, 22). This shows the reader that there’s a difference between what actually happens and what’s happening in her head. Also, it represents personification. Dramatic language includes “With all the fact she has to say about the Ice-storms” by Frost, 22. This third section of a poem lets the reader see the speaker speaking to the first person. The speaker might be very imaginative and believe there is truth in this poem. The tone of the poem also reveals the speaker’s disdain for reality. Frost, 22.) The speaker is being sarcastic by saying “with her whole truth”. This is an indication that he feels a negative or angry attitude to the topic. Frost made sure to take advantage of this section’s literacy opportunities.
Section four provides fiction. But, the paradox of the poem quickly transforms this to reality. The speaker still believes that the tree bent because of a boy swinging on it. The speaker uses sexual imagery again when he says that he rode them down until they became stiff and not one of them hung limp (Frost 30-33). Although it seems like he is talking about trees, it is actually ametaphoric and a description masturbation. There are four instances of “one…not” (Frost), which is an allegory. This is the time that the speaker uses to describe his childhood, which was not a happy one. He really is talking about his life as a boy and not about launching too early (Frost at 34). This leaves the reader with regrets and he longs to live his life to the fullest. The reader is again amazed at the use of literacy tools.
Section five, which contains the paradox, is the section that summarizes the thoughts of the speaker and gives the final resolution. This section is the only one in the entire structure with a break that represents a transition. This section opens by revealing the paradox, “So was myself once a swinger in birches;” (Frost 42-43). This turns the whole poem into one big contradiction and forces sections two and four onto each other. The reader is left to question the truth. “I’m too tired to think, and life seems so bleak” (Frost 44-45) is the controlling metaphor. Frost uses tactile imagery in addition to all other imagery. Frost’s section also reveals the reader about fate and religions. Frost’s section contains information that makes it clear that the speaker has been a Christian. Paganism, also known in mythology, is now evident in “Birches”. The speaker’s anger at Fates is what makes the speaker continue to shout at them. Frost doesn’t only use literacy devices, he also uses another device to create an outstanding poem.
In the last section of “Birches”, the speaker finally accepts that he will never live again and has to make a decision. It is the summation of all his thoughts. Italicized, the word “toward” is from Frost, 47. This indicates that he traveled to heaven but couldn’t reach it because the tree was too weak. Thematic imagery is used throughout the poem to provide the reader with an image which relates to the overall theme (metaphor) in the poem. Frost uses the words “climbing” to illustrate analogy. Frost also uses “swingerofbirches” to represent repetition throughout the poem. Frost’s last line (Frost, 56-59) tells us that while he must travel and leave the earth, he also needs to return. The tree is the perfect analogy for the speaker’s feelings and solution. It is rooted to ground so even though it grows higher than the ground “towards paradise”, the roots remain in the ground. So the person who climbs the tree remains connected to the earth. Frost ends the poem and leaves the reader wondering about the truth.
This poem gives the reader a glimpse into the past and leaves them with a new perspective on their lives. In this poem, the speaker describes his childhood in detail and gives a detailed explanation. The reader feels empathy for the speaker due to the terrible experiences he endured. The setting for the poem is revealed as after an icestorm. The sad, lonely, and tragic life of the speaker forces readers to reflect on their lives and make decisions that will affect their happiness. The use of religion is used to make the reader think more about the speaker’s views. For example, the speaker mentions Christianity in “Birches”, but Pagan (mythology), and Buddhism in the poem. To see these religions in Frost’s piece, the reader must have some knowledge of them. The speaker’s discussion about repentance is a clear indication of Buddhism, while the mention of fate (Frost 51) is a direct reference to the Pagan religion.
Robert Lee Frost was created on March 26, 1874. His death occurred on January 29, 1962. Frost’s work is a good example of this. Frost was born California. But, his father passed away, so he moved into the house of his grandmother and his sister in Massachusetts. Frost met Elinor, his love, in highschool. They were both able to graduate together and then married one year later. Their love story was not without its challenges. At first, she refused to marry him because she wanted her high school diploma. (Pritchard & Associates 2001) They had to endure the trials of life. Their second child, Lesley Elliot, died shortly after their birth. Frost suffered a lot from all of these sad events, including the death of one child through suicide, another who developed a mental illness later on, and a fourth who died just weeks after she gave birth. Frost was initially not taken seriously, and was repeatedly rejected. He continued to stand by his work and is now a very well-known poet. (Poets.org, 2008)
Literacy devices are utilized throughout “Birches” in order to give the reader a glimpse into the life of an older man. Images are used throughout the poem. They all have a vital role in providing a picture for the reader while they read the poetry. It is very imaginative, breaking down the poem into six sections. The poem’s paradox later makes it possible to distinguish truth from fiction. Frost’s words reveal that the speaker is an older man. The reader can also experience Frost’s tone towards the topics of the poem.
Robert Frost employs many literacy devices including transition, repetitions of analogy, allegory and similes. This poem is a masterpiece of literature due to its extreme use literacy devices.
