Robert Frost's "Choose Something Like A Star"

The Motivation Behind "Choose Something Like a Star"


The poet Robert Frost is among the most cited and cherished authors in literature from the distinct communication techniques he employs in his works. The uniqueness is from the understanding that Frost was a simple New England farmer who was fond of expressing his interests and thoughts in the form of poems. The writing of the poetic song "Choose Something Like a Star" also enables the reader to contextualize how historical events and biographical occurrences can play a significant role in the construction of a work of literature. Robert Frost's poem, "Choose Something Like a Star," was heavily influenced by his psychological awareness, grief, events in time, and his difficult struggles in life.


The Depressed Life and Tragedies


It is worth noting that one of the major motivation behind the writing of the poem was the depressed life that Frost led and that was characterized by tragedy. There is notable tension in the poem where it becomes apparent that the poet intended to communicate the background of something darker that is in the periphery. It depicts the fact that Frost had his demons to battle and he was versed in the darkness that lurked in his life. Hus father was an alcoholic, and his mother led a depressed life, and the ordeals meant that Frost led a life that was plagued by misery which ended up as mental illness. For example, it is stated that Frist had to consider placing his sister in a mental hospital in 1920 even though she eventually succumbed nine years later. His son was also a suicide victim in 1940 when he was aged 38, and his daughter was also a subject to a mental hospital as he was placed in a rehabilitation facility in 1947. The tragedies that rocked his life are the prime factors that motivated Frost to compose the poem "Choose Something Like a Star." The justification of the depressed life in the poem is from the consideration of the statement "To carry praise or blame too far, We may choose something like a star". It underscores the fact that even though one may have undergone a lot of misery and tragedy in life, blaming is not always the option because there is always hope when one believes and listens to the bright side of life. The fact that Frost intended to use the star as a learning foundation implies emphasizes that he was positive about life and ready to make the right choices "like a star" as a way of avoiding more problems in his life.


The Love for Nature and the Ordinary Setting of Life


Furthermore, Frost's desire to compose the poem was highly influenced by his love for nature and the ordinary setting of life. Frost places a significant emphasis on the role of the environment and everything that gives the natural context of life including the flora and the fauna. The use of words such as "And steadfast as Keats' Eremite" indicates that there is a simple continuity of the star and that he adores it from its steadfastness. His preference for nature is traced back to the time he spent in New England where that were many pastoral scenes that featured in the locality. It is thus clear that specific location in the background is used to motivate the reader into examining the themes in the poem. In fact, rather than focus on the typical lifestyle that is characterized by pastoralism and other factors, he placed emphasis on the natural world setting. It is thus apparent that the struggles that are common in life are the prime reasons for the writing of the poem. It is also worth highlighting that the metaphysical content is relevant in the explication of the poem "Choose Something Like a Star" because of the element of heavenly bodies being referred. He writes that "Since dark is what brings out your light" to illustrate that he loves nature and the fact that it has the ability to change as darkness and light do. It is thus evident that Frost's perception of life was more than perceiving it in the literal context but instead use it as a foundation for character in his work.


The Challenge of Communication


The challenges that relate to communicating issues are also a prime reason behind Frost's motive for composing the poem. Instead, Frost uses the subject positively because he presents a situation where the reader perceives that it is only through embracing communication despite the difficulty associated with it that one can escape from despair and isolation. The fact that communication is a huge challenge to achieve is also evident explicitly in the poem "Choose Something Like a Star." The understanding that communication is a common challenge in many societal contents and that features in Frost's background enable the reader to understand why the poem is written in a free verse technique. The poet thus speaks directly to the reader in the verse that states "Say something to us we can learn. By heart and when alone repeat." It shows that the poet acknowledges the fact that it is not easy to communicate and thus request for the character to say anything that can be used to understand the reason to be wise when making choices.


The Psychological Rationality


Finally, it is noted that Frost's psychological rationality forms a key bass for his decision to compose the poem. The background of his life in New England meant that when one attained adulthood, it was expected that they would be righteous and accept responsibility. It was thus not possible to escape rationality as an outcome of one's conscience and in any case, one ought to be accountable fully. The poet states, "Tell us what elements you blend. It gives us strangely little aid" to show that there is an age when one reaches where they are expected to learn the elements that are socially acceptable, and that can enable someone to thrive in a specific environment. The overall impression is that Frost was cautious about his mind and the psychology related to the decisions he made. The emphasis is thus on the principle that Frost was psychologically aware of his environment and the fact that he was expected to act rationally.


Conclusion


In conclusion, it is worth affirming that the background of misery and struggles while keeping his cognizance rational formed the foundation for the writing of the poem. The important reasons for the composition of the poem were the challenges that Frost underwent, the love he had for nature, the difficulties in expressing ideas and the state of mind. All factors are blended concurrently in the poem "Choose Something Like a Star" to enable the reader to make righteous decisions even when tragedy, depression, and misery have plagued one's life.

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