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Of Discovery In Stopping By Woods On A Snowy Evening, And Robert Frost's Poems

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Discoveries may compel individuals to affirm or challenge their perspective on themselves and the wider world. This idea of discovery offering new understandings and renewed perceptions of ourselves and others is reflected in the poem, ‘Stopping by Woods on A Snowy Evening’ by Robert Frost and the short story, ‘The Yellow Wallpaper’ by Charlotte Perkins Gilman. Robert Frost’s poetry reflects an enduring interest in how landscape can evoke contemplation and reflection about one’s place in society and the purpose of their existence. This idea is also closely reflected in my related text ‘The Yellow Wallpaper’. The concept of discovery in the two texts is conveyed as intellectual and emotional, derived from moments of reverie and loneliness. …show more content…

This acknowledgement is conveyed through the last stanza, in the alliterative phrase, “The woods are lovely, dark and deep,” which conveys that the woods offer the persona a much-needed break from the chaos of society and provides solitude. “but I have promises to keep,” signifies an interruption of the personas trance like state from nature and self-reflection. The repetition of the last line, “and miles to go before I sleep” shows that the persona realises that their journey is incomplete. This realisation compels the persona to appreciate nature and assert their perspective on themselves and the wider world, helping them to establish their place in society.
Similarly, in ‘The Yellow Wallpaper’ the narrator’s lack of self-expression and intellectual simulation through confinement drives her mad but enables her to discover the societal confinement placed on her through which the reader also discovers the oppression of other women in society. The narrator suffers from postpartum depression and is put on a rest cure. She isn’t allowed to write or do anything that is intellectually stimulating. The narrator disagrees and believes that a distraction would be best for her, so she continues to write hiding her journal. Through her entries. she has revelations of her true feelings towards her husband’s ideas which feel oppressive. This enables the reader to understand the power imbalance in her relationship with her

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