ROUGH DRAFT

ENGLISH 2 PROJECT.

Robert Lee Frost (March 26, 1874 – January 29, 1963) was an American poet.
His work first found its audience in England before making its way to
publication in the United States. Renowned for his ability to authentically
portray rural life and master American colloquial speech. Frost often explored
the backdrop of rural life in early 20th-century New England in his writings,
using these settings as a lens through which to delve into intricate social and
philosophical concepts.
Consistently celebrated during his lifetime, Frost achieved a remarkable feat by
being the sole poet to be honoured with four Pulitzer Prizes for Poetry. He
emerged as a unique American literary figure, almost assuming the role of an
artistic institution. In recognition of his outstanding poetic contributions, he was
bestowed with the Congressional Gold Medal in 1960. Additionally, on July 22,
1961, Frost was appointed as the poet laureate of Vermont.

Childhood And Adolescence.

San Francisco was the birthplace of Robert Frost, born to journalist William
Prescott Frost Jr. and Isabelle Moodie. His father's lineage traced back to
Nicholas Frost of Tiverton, Devon, England, who embarked on a journey to
New Hampshire aboard the Wolfrana in 1634. On the other hand, his mother
hailed from Scotland as an immigrant.
Frost's father initially worked as a teacher and later became an editor for the San
Francisco Evening Bulletin, which eventually merged with the San Francisco
Examiner. He also made an unsuccessful bid for the position of city tax
collector. Following his passing on May 5, 1885, the family relocated across the
country to Lawrence, Massachusetts. They received support from Robert's
grandfather, William Frost Sr., who held a supervisory role at a New England
mill. In 1892, Frost completed his education at Lawrence High School.
Despite becoming renowned for his later affiliation with rural life, Frost spent
his formative years in an urban setting and made his initial foray into publishing
with a poem in his high school's magazine. He briefly enrolled at Dartmouth
College, securing acceptance into the Theta Delta Chi fraternity during his two-
month stay. Frost, however, soon returned to his hometown, where he took on
various roles, such as assisting his mother in teaching a group of spirited boys,
delivering newspapers, and maintaining carbon arc lamps in a factory. He
expressed dissatisfaction with these occupations, firmly believing that his true
vocation lay in the pursuit of poetry
While he later became renowned for his association with rural life, Frost's early
years were spent in an urban environment, and he made his debut in the world
of publishing with a poem in his high school's magazine. His educational
journey included a brief two-month stint at Dartmouth College, during which he
gained admission to the Theta Delta Chi fraternity. However, Frost soon
returned to his hometown, taking on various roles such as assisting his mother
in teaching a group of lively boys, delivering newspapers, and working in a
factory to maintain carbon arc lamps. Throughout this period, he harboured a
strong belief that his true calling was to pursue a career in poetry.

ADULT YEARS
In 1894, he achieved his first sale in the world of literature, pocketing $15
(equivalent to $507 today) for his poem "My Butterfly: An Elegy," which
appeared in the November 8, 1894, issue of The Independent in New York.
Pleased with his accomplishment, he proposed marriage to Elinor Miriam
White. However, she deferred the proposal, opting to complete her college
education at St. Lawrence University first. Frost, undeterred, embarked on an
excursion to the Great Dismal Swamp in Virginia and upon his return, he once
again asked for Elinor's hand in marriage. She agreed after her graduation, and
they tied the knot in Lawrence, Massachusetts, on December 19, 1895.

Frost enrolled at Harvard University from 1897 to 1899 but left voluntarily due
to health issues. Shortly before his passing, Frost's grandfather purchased a farm
for Robert and Elinor in Derry, New Hampshire. Frost dedicated nine years to
farming while composing his early works during the early morning hours. Many
of these poems later gained fame. However, Frost's farming endeavours did not
prove fruitful, prompting him to re-enter the field of education. He served as an
English teacher at New Hampshire's Pinkerton Academy from 1906 to 1911 and
subsequently at the New Hampshire Normal School (now Plymouth State
University) in Plymouth, New Hampshire.
In 1960, Frost received the United States Congressional Gold Medal, a
recognition of his poetry for its profound impact on American culture and global
philosophy. President Kennedy officially presented him with this esteemed
honour in March 1962. That same year, Frost also received the Edward
MacDowell Medal from the MacDowell Colony, celebrating his outstanding
contributions to the arts.
At the age of 86, Frost delivered a memorable reading at the inauguration of
John F. Kennedy on January 20, 1961. He intended to recite his poem
"Dedication," which he had composed for the occasion. However, the intense
sunlight made it impossible for him to read the text, prompting him to instead
recite "The Gift Outright" from memory.

PERSONAL LIFE
Grief and loss cast a long shadow over Frost's personal life. In 1885, when he
was just 11 years old, his father succumbed to tuberculosis, leaving the family
with a mere eight dollars to their name. Tragedy struck again in 1900 when
Frost's mother lost her battle with cancer. In 1920, Frost faced the heart-
wrenching decision to admit his younger sister, Jeanie, to a mental hospital,
where she passed away nine years later. Mental illness appeared to be a
recurring theme in Frost's family, with both he and his mother grappling with
depression, and even his daughter Irma being institutionalized for mental health
reasons in 1947. Frost's wife, Elinor, also battled periods of depression.

Elinor and Robert Frost were parents to six children: their son Elliott (1896–
1900) tragically passed away from cholera, while their daughter Lesley Frost
Ballantine (1899–1983) and son Carol (1902–1940) were among their surviving
children. Unfortunately, their daughter Marjorie (1905–1934) lost her life due to
puerperal fever following childbirth, and their daughter Elinor Bettina passed
away just one day after her birth in 1907. Only Lesley and Irma outlived their
father. Elinor, who had battled heart problems for much of her life, was
diagnosed with breast cancer in 1937 and eventually succumbed to heart failure
in 1938.

POPULAR POEMS WRITTEN BY

ROBERT FROST:

• The Road Not Taken

• Fire And Ice
• Acquainted With The Night
• Mending Wall
• Stopping By Woods On A Snowy Evening
-Aryaan Azeez
11D