Stylistic Analysis of Robert Frost ’ s Poem “ Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening ”

The purpose of this study is to investigate the style of Robert Frost’s poem “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening”. A lot of work has been done on this poem in the domain of literary criticism but very little or almost no comprehensive research has been conducted yet, to find out the stylistic features. So, the present study focuses on the use of stylistic devices. Each level has been studied deeply and comprehensively, by looking at the choice of language at phonetic, phonological, graphitic, semantic and grammatical levels. It has been concluded that Frost used a number of stylistic devices including cacophony, alliteration, assonance, tone modulation, denotation, connotation, metaphor, personification, symbolism, and imagery to highlight the idea of dismay and death. The repetition of certain words and choice of mental process verbs like think, see, know, and watch leave a significant effect on the mind of readers. It has also been found that, Frost tried to show the responsibilities and duties of human on this earth, which everyone has to perform. Furthermore, he portrayed the short life span of human to perform all these duties, which finally result in state of depression and anxiety. So, the present study is significant as it will help the reader to understand the author’s point of view stylistically on linguistic basis rather in the domain of literary criticism.


PHONOLOGY
According to Bloomfield, "Phonology is the organization of sounds into patterns". In more simple sense, "the study of sounds in a language is called phonology". Phonology is the study of vocal sounds and sound changes, phonemes and their variants in a particular language. What is sound? How and where it is produced from? How it received by the ears? How and why is one sound different from the other? ___ questions these are the subject-matter of phonology. Every language makes its own selection of sounds and organizes them into characteristic patterns. This selection of sounds and their agreement into patterns constitute the phonology of the language.

MORPHOLOGY
Mark and Kirsten 2005, p.1) said that, "Morphology refers to the meantal system involved in word formation and how they are formed". Bloomfield calls it the study of the constructions in which bound forms appear among the constituents.
1.3.4 SYNATAX The word syntax is derived from a Greek word meaning 'ordering together', 'systematic arrangement', or 'putting together'. It is the study of sentence building, of the ways in which words are arranged together in order to make larger units. A syntactic analysis is generally concerned with sentences and the constituents of sentences. Briefly speaking, syntax is the grammar of sentences; it is the science of sentence construction. 'It is perhaps best to define syntax negatively, as the study of the combinations of such morphemes as are not bound on the levels of either inflection or derivation' (Robert A Hall, 1969 : 91). By this definition, most of the elements involved in syntactical combinations will indeed be free, but some will be pharasally or clausally bound.
1.3.5 SEMANTICs According to David Crystal, "Semantics is the study of meaning". Semantics is also called "semasiology". It is the branch of linguistics concerned with meaning. It deals with the study of meaning, changes in meaning, and the principles that govern the relationship between sentences or words and their meanings. Rhythm A regular pattern of sound, time intervals, or events occurring in writing.

b.
Rhyme: A word that has the same sound or ends with the same sound as another word.

c.
Internal Rhyme: Rhyme that occurs within a single line of verse. 4 Alliteration: The repetition of initial consonant sounds. Usually poets use this device to imitate sounds. Specially to create musical effects.

5
Consonance: A near rhyme that consists of identical consant sounds proceeded by different vowel sounds such as with "stuff and off". 6 Assonance: The repetition of similar vowel sounds in poetry.

7
Onomatopoeia: Onomatopeia is the use of words that imitate sounds.

Morphological Devices Includes 8
Affixes: If we put morphemes bfore the words; which also forms new words, this procedure is called affixcation. It furhter Divides:a. Prefixes: The process of putting morphemes to change its meaning, to the beginning of a word such as unhappy.
b. Suffixes: The process of putting morphemes to make another word, at the end of the word, such as quickly.

Lexical Devices include 9
Ellipsis: Ellipsis is very similar to subsutition, it is omission of noun, verb, or a clause, on the assumption that it is understand from the linguistic context for example:

A:
Where are you doing?
B: To town.

INTRODUCTION OF THE POEM
The Poem is written by Robert Lee Frost. It moves us as unobtrusively as it conveys to us the profoundity of its thought. "The lyric", syas William O Connor, "like Milton's sonnett On His Blindness and Arnold's Dove Beach, seems to have established itself permanently in anthologies and textbooks of poetry. It is one of Frost's best known poems, and we might discover, if we had the means, that it is one of the best poems of the twentieth century." It is this lyric that appealed to the late Pandit Jawhar Lal Nehru and guided and inspired him to be constantly on the move, adhering to his duties.
The poem presents nature as standard of beauty. But no words to convey the beauty of nature have been used except the word 'lovely'. This word simply states the whole idea of the poem. Then the idea of darkness is also very important. It is mentioned twice in the poem. And this highlight the connection between beauty and mystery. Some reviewer associates the words 'darkness and sleep' which the desire for death. But the poet discounts darkness by using the word 'light'. The poem points out at the attractive and exciting beauty of nature and simultaneously thinks at the need to carry on with the daily affairs of life. The world of fantasy is very inviting. But one must maintain balance between the world of reality and imagination.

Robert
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METHODOLOGY
This chapter provides stylistic analysis of the poem. The poem consists of four stanzas, each with four lines. The poem is written in iambic pentameter. The rhyme scheme of first stanza is aaba. Unstressed syllable is represented by {x} and stressed syllable is represented by { / }. Iambic pattern is { x / } Whose woods these are I think I know. A x/ x/ x/ x/ His house is in the village though; B x/ x/ x/ x/ He will not see me stopping here B x/ x/ x/ x/ To watch his woods fill up with snow. A x/ x/ x/ x/ The poem portrays the natural scene of frozen lake and falling of snow on the trees, woods and houses. The poet listen the inaudible sound of the wind falling on the woods. These dark woods symbolize death-the ultimate reality.
My little horse must think it queer B x/ x/ x/ x/ To stop without a farmhouse near B x/ x/ x/ x/ Between the woods and frozen lake C x/ x/ x/ x/ The darkest evening of the year. B x/ x/ x/ x/ In these lines, the horse of the poet stands the role of a foil and stayed between the woods and frozen lake for a little bit. He asked from his horse whether they stop there, in the cold weather, the darkest and the longest night of the year.
He gives his harness bells a shake C x/ x/ x/ x/ Of easy wind and downy flake. C x/ x/ x/ x/ In this stanza the horse acts, reinforcing the speaker's question. This is an evidence of a sort of telepathy between the speaker and his horse which could not have been possible without perfect mutual understanding and an excellent rapport between the two.
The woods are lovely, dark and deep. D x/ x/ x/ x/ But I have promises to keep, D x/ x/ x/ x/ And miles to go before I sleep, D x/ x/ x/ x/ And miles to go before I sleep. D x/ x/ x/ x/ This is the final stanza of this short poem. It begins with a comment on the scene. Giving us 'very subjective comment, the speaker says the woods are lovely dark and deep'. The last two lines are famous. They are repeated. The first line could refer to the journey that he must make while the second could refer to time. Here time indicates him what he/she has do in his/her life and what is going to be done. This second line of the poem haunted him/her throughout the poem. This is the most important and interpreted line of all the stanzas of the poem.

ALLITERATION
In this poem, alliteration is found in line no 2,3,4, and 9. (His -House, He -here, watch -with, and He -his -harness)

HYPERBOLE
In this poem, hyperbole is found in line no 4.

METAPHOR
This is a lyric poem. It was first published in the New Republic on March 7, 1923, and republished later entitled New Hampshire. This collection won Frost a Pulitzer Prize. The poet realizes that his responsibility/duty are more important than his desire for rest. And the last line of the po9em lies in the darker images that are hinted at throughout the poem. To conclude we say that most of the words are monosyllables and direct narrative. And the poem is tightly constructed, imbued with multiple layers of meaning, and theoretically important in its treatment.

SYMBOISM
In this poem, the poet uses symbolism to show the co-relation between the woods and village with Heaven in line no 1 and line no 2. Furhter without any doubt, Mythological Symbolism is also seen clearly in line no 7, when the speaker talks about the lake. It is a reference to Hell in Norse Mythology. And this is located in the frozen region of Niflehiem.

POETIC FORM AND STRUCTURE
The form of the poem is completely poetic. It consists of four stanzas containing four line of each stanza written in iambic pentameter.

FINDINGS
The poem presents one person's momentary encounter with nature. The poet use simple language in simple way about the woods, fields snow and nature. Through this poem the writer describe the lovely scene of nature for enjoyment, but the last line of the poem "And miles to go before I sleep" remember him that he yet to be traveled before he can rest for the night. Here Copyright © International Journal of English and Education | www.ijee.org night mean his last residence ie; eternal place, the place after death. So, the writer choose simple diction but his theme is very much deeper.

CONCLUSION
The rhythm of the poem, the word music of stanza three, the expressive phrases of stanza four, the distinctive rhymes scheme of the poem, the efficacy of the repititions of the last line continue to make it one of those poems that combine popular appeal with true artistic merit. These qualities make the poem get a certain place in honoured, treasured lyrics of English.
The poem points out the attractive, charming, and exciting scene of nature and beauty. And also carry on with the routine affairs of life. The world is very fantastic and inviting. But the teme of the poem gives us moral lesson that we must maintain balance between the world of reality and imagination. After reading the poem, we get ready to face te challenges of life. And this is the main theme of te poem.

PEDAGOGICAL IMPLICATURE
The ample of this study is to explore broad avenue and open ways in which language has been used in the poem. The uses of effects and the stylistics elements and figurative devices regards the poem will be looked at in the analysis for the readers own satisfaction.

SCOPE OF THE STUDY
The present study is based on stylistic and scientific analysis on linguistic levels for example; phonology, morphology, graphology, syntax and semantics. This stylistic and scientific analysis will be elpgul for the readers, specially poetry readers, about to know and understand the literary devices and figure of speech used by the poets in their own way to enahnce their ideas through poetry. And also helpful for further researchers of this field.

LIMITATIONS
Due to shortage of time the analysis of the poem is deal properly short. And the material is not as much as it should be because the researcher agree that though it is a short poemsuffused with meaning, open to varied interpretaions.