English Poetry (01) : The Silken Tent by Robert Frost

The Analysis of Poem

 

She is as in a field a silken tent

At midday when the sunny summer breeze

Has dried the dew and all its ropes relent,

So that in guys it gently sways at ease,

And its supporting central cedar pole,

That is its pinnacle to heavenward

And signifies the sureness of the soul,

Seems to owe naught to any single cord,

But strictly held by none, is loosely bound

By countless silken ties of love and thought

To everything on earth the compass round,

And only by one's going slightly taut

In the capriciousness of summer air

Is of the slightest bondage made aware.

A.   Biography of Poet

Robert Frost was an American poet which was born on March 26, 1874 in San Francisco, California. (1874-1963). He was graduated from Harvard University, Lawrence High School and Dartmouth College. He was not only as a poet at that time but also as an educator also. Robert was the winner of four Pulitzer Prize and a special guess at president John F. Kennedy’s inauguration. Robert also become a poetic force and the unofficial “poet laureate” of United States.

B.   Basic Versification

This Poem is categorized as a descriptive poem. It is composed in one stanza and it composed by fourteen line.

The Rhyme Scheme of this poem is a-b-a-b-c-d-c-d-e-f-e-f-g-g.

In this poem, in the first line we are use the letter ‘a’ represents the similar terminal sounds of the last word such as “Tent”. And it is similar to the third line which is represents “relent”.

The letter ‘b’ represent the similar terminal sounds of the last word “breeze and ease” in the second and fourth line.

The letter ‘c’ represent the similar terminal sounds of the last word “pole and soul” in the fifth and seventh line.

The letter ‘d’ represent the similar sounds of the last word “heavenward and cord” in the sixth and eight line.

The letter ‘e’ represent the similar sounds of the last word “bound and round” in the ninth and eleventh.

The letter ‘f’ represented the similar sounds of the last word “thought and taut” in the tenth and twelfth line.

The letter ‘g’ represented the similar sounds of the last word “air and aware” in the thirteen and fourteen line.

There are end-stop lines in some lines.

1.     In the third line because there is a comma.

2.     In the fourth line because there is a comma.

3.     In the fifth line because there is a comma.

4.     In the seventh line because there is a comma.

5.     In the eight line because there is a comma.

6.     In the eleventh because there is a comma.

7.     In the fourteen because there is a full stop.

There are run on line in some line:

1.     In the first line because there is no punctuation.

2.     In the second line because there is no punctuation.

3.     In the sixth line because there is no punctuation.

4.     In the ninth line because there is no punctuation.

5.     In the tenth line because there is no punctuation.

6.     In the twelfth line because there is no punctuation.

7.     In the thirteen line because there is no punctuation.

The alliteration of this poem is:

1.     In the second line for the repetition S sound as sunny, summer.

2.     In the fourth line for the repetition G sound as guys and gently

3.     In the fifth line for the repetition C sound as central and cedar

4.     In the seventh line for the repetition S sound as signifies, sureness, and soul

A.   Figurative Language

§  Methapor

“She is as in a field a silken tent”. In first line, a poet use simile as figurative language. A poet tries to compare the women with a silken tent.

§  Personification

“Has dried the dew and all its ropes relent,”. In this sentence, a poet use personification. The poet used relent which is verb that usually use for a people to be used for ropes which is thing.

B.   Paraphrasing

The woman is like a land a soft tent

At noon when the shine summer and chilly air

The dew has dried and ropes has relented

So that in guys it kind at comfortable

And it’s complete centre cedar pole

It’s pinnacle to paradise

And mark the decision of the soul

Looks to away naught to any single cord

But hardly held by none is free to jump

Cannot measure silken ties of love and though

To all on land the compass round

And just by one’s going nervous

In the irregular of summer

Is of the slightest slavery realize

§  The women’s heart is described as the silken tent in a land. Although, she is in the situation like at noon when the shine summer and chilly air. She is described as complete centre cedar pole that has strong heart to face her life whatever the condition around of her.

§  The woman is described as a person that care about her religion side in the future.

C.   Interpretation

The poem told us about a man who loves a woman. He describes the woman beautifully. He chooses several words to emphasize the characteristic of the women who the man loves. He describes the woman like “a silken tent” which means she is soft like a silk.

“At midday when the sunny summer breeze”. In this line he describes the women with the sense, how the man sees the women such as peacefully woman.

The man also describes the personality of the women. In the line “by countless silken ties of love and though”. So, it shows us that the women have a strong personality which is full of love and thoughtfully.

This poet showing us about the real of perfect woman that has several characteristics in her life.

D.   Subject Matter

The subject matter in this poem:

§  The Women, because the focus subject that the poet describe in this poem is the women.

E.   Theme

The theme in this poem is about “when a man admires a girl, he will see only the perfection of the girl.

F.    Character

The character in this poem is the women. The reason is because this poet is describing the women from beginning until the end. The poet focuses in comparing the amazing side of a woman with silken tent. Furthermore, the poet more describes about the characteristic of the woman. The atmosphere of the poem displays common characteristics of woman like “sunny summer breeze”. It means that the woman’s job is to be sunny, warm, happy and pleasant. The woman is the strong character dose not derive from any single thing.

G.  Moral Lesson

§  As a women, we have to act beautifully, with full of love and softness. Besides, as a woman we also have to act strongly.

§  The most important side of the women not just the outer beauty, but also the inner beauty.