Stopping by woods on a snowy evening poetic devices

Seemingly simple, this poem by Robert Frost is loaded with meanings on account of the use of the following literary devices.

Metaphor: The poem doesn’t have any metaphors. However, there are two extended metaphors in the poem. The last line of the third stanza, “sweep of easy wind and downy flake” and the second metaphor is used in the last line with repetition, “and miles to go before I sleep.” Here, miles represent life’s journey, while sleep represents death.

Personification: Robert Frost has personified the thinking of the horse mildly in the second stanza when it stops, and in the third stanza he gives a sign to the rider. “He gives his harness bells a shake/ to ask if there is some mistake.” It shows as if the horse is a human being who understands his owner’s needs or inquires if they have to stop.

Imagery: Imagery is used to make readers feel things through their five senses. The poet has used the images for the sense of sights such as woods, house, lake, and These images help readers see the woods a source of solace and comfort to a lonely traveler.

Alliteration: Alliteration is the repetition of the same consonant sounds in the same lines such as the consistent use of /w/, /wh/ and /s/ sounds. The following phrases are examples of alliteration from the poem: “watch his woods”, “sound’s the sweep”, “His house”.

Assonance: Assonance is a repetition of the vowel sounds in the same line such as the sounds of /e/ and /i/ come in quick succession in “he will not see me stopping” and in “he gives his harness bells a shake.”

Consonance: Consonance is the repetition of consonant sounds such as /w/ and /th/ sounds in “Whose woods are these I think I know” and /w/ sound in “to watch his woods fill up with snow.”

Euphony: It refers to the sound that is pleasing to the ears. While the journey through the forest is of the loneliness, according to Robert Frost woods are not haunting or even scary but provides comfort and calmness. The woods also represents an uncorrupted world that the traveler wishes to stay. Therefore, it is euphony.