Robert Frost

Robert Frost (1874-1963) was a famous and influential American poet. You probably know him best for "The Road Not Taken" or "Stopping By Woods On A Snowy Evening," heck, you've probably spent more time analyzing his poems than you have anyone else's besides William Shakespeare - he's one of those poets that crops up again and again on tests, in textbooks, and in syllabuses for low-level college courses.

Frost is one of the most iconic American poets there is. His work focused primarily on the joys of rural and rustic life, and used colloquial language frequently. He is also one of the most honored poets in American history, receiving four Pulitzer Prizes in his lifetime. He was also Poet Laureate of the US from 1958 to 1959.

We would list his books of poetry, but you wouldn't know them. Instead, we'll list his poems that you'll recognize:

• "Out, Out"
• "The Road Not Taken"
• "Stopping By Woods On A Snowy Evening"
• "The Pasture"
• "Fire and Ice"
• "Mending Wall"

---

Frost's work provides examples of:

• Farm Boy: A common character and narrator in Frost's poetry
• Sugar Bowl: At first glance, a lot of his poems seem to take place here.
• Throwing Out the Script: Frost himself did this at the Kennedy inauguration. He'd written a new poem but kept getting his notes mixed up; finally he gave up and recited "The Gift Outright" from memory.