Write an essay on Robert Frost as a poet discussing his distinctive poetic qualities.

In writing an essay about Robert Frost's distinctive qualities as a poet, you'll want to consider his most frequent themes, subject matter, and style. Frost has been called a distinctly American poet, perhaps because the sensibilities that embody the American spirit (such as hard work, loyalty, honesty, humility, perseverance, etc.) are often on display in his poems. Frost's poetic language is simple and straightforward, and he avoids obscure word choices or intentionally "flowery" language, relying...

In writing an essay about Robert Frost's distinctive qualities as a poet, you'll want to consider his most frequent themes, subject matter, and style. Frost has been called a distinctly American poet, perhaps because the sensibilities that embody the American spirit (such as hard work, loyalty, honesty, humility, perseverance, etc.) are often on display in his poems. Frost's poetic language is simple and straightforward, and he avoids obscure word choices or intentionally "flowery" language, relying instead on an almost prosaic (aka, more akin to prose than poetry) style to convey his ideas. Frost is also notable because of his use of nature imagery, often as a metaphor for a larger topic.

For example, two of his most famous poems, "The Road Not Taken" and "After Apple Picking," use descriptive nature imagery to discuss larger more abstract topics. The "two roads diverged in a yellow wood" in "The Road Not Taken" describe an actual split path in the woods, but also refer to decisions made on one's path in life. The apple picking metaphor in "After Apple Picking" serves to illustrate the legacy of a career writing poetry, a life path which has distinct activities, seasons, necessary tasks, and harvests/accomplishments.