Etude de cas l'agence NOOVO

Discovery can lead to a cognitive psychological and spiritual shift that alters our identity and perception of the world. Robert Frost poems ‘Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening’, ‘Fire and Ice’ and ‘The Tuft of Flowers’ along with Nas’s rap song ‘One Love’ explore this process of change by recognizing the tension between the imaginative and real worlds, and advocating the importance of the actual over the allure of fantasy.

Discovery can produce a cognitive and emotional shift that leads to a deeper understanding of self and our place in the cosmos. Robert Frost’s ‘Stopping by the Woods on a Snowy Evening’ (The Woods) invites readers to experience this process themselves as it traces the personas conflict between the freedom that fantasy offers and the demands of responsibility of the real world. The poet's use of alliteration describes the woods as “Lovely dark and deep”, capturing the tranquillity and seductiveness of the natural world, offering emancipation from the social demands of village life. Contrastingly, in Frosts’ ‘Fire and Ice’, the inherently negative and destructive potential of nature is instead highlighted metaphorically, as “the world will end in fire…in ice”, representing the devastating impacts of not only the natural world but also the human emotions that it symbolises. In ‘The Woods’, the fascination with the sublime disconnects him from reality, stops him between the woods and the frozen lake on the darkest evening of the year and induces a hypnotic state. The allure of the imagination is in direct conflict with the everyday social demands of life, similarly to ‘Fire and Ice’ where the conflicting binary of the two natural wonders and their respective allegories of passion and hatred are also in a state of conflict. In ‘The Woods’ the repetition of the constant ‘k’ as the horse gives his ‘bell a shake to ask if there is some mistake’, awakens the persona from his trance-like state and reminds him of his responsibilities to others. This interruption makes a conceptual shift in the poet's conscious that draws him back towards the real world.   His repetition as he mutters that he as “promises to keep” and “miles to go before I sleep, miles to go before I sleep” that ends the poem is an acknowledgement of his rejection of seductive allure of fantasy and imagination and an acceptance of his personal responsibilities to those that await his return. In this way, Frost recognises the importance of pragmatism and an acceptance of the conflicting nature of the human condition, rather than seeking solace in fantasy and the freedom that the imagination offers.

The tension between the real and the imaginative is also apparent in ‘Tuft of Flowers’ where the persona is distracted from his daily chores by the sublime beauty of nature. Observing the newly mowed field, he admits that he is “alone” “as all must be”, thereby articulating the emotional tension that defines our relationship with others. Moments of solitude and isolation provide fertile ground for transformative revelations about the sublime beauty of nature and the positive impact of physical labour. His fascination with the sublime is recognised in his description of the “bewildered butterfly” and how he “marked” its flight, suggesting a newfound appreciation for the simplicity and beauty of the natural world. This beauty is represented metaphorically in the ‘tuft of flowers’ that had been spared by the scythe cutter, establishing a connection between the persona and the mower as they had both “loved them thus”. Similarly, in Frosts’ ‘Fire and Ice’, the poems central themes are also depicted symbolically, as the notion of desire and passion is “fire”, whilst the cold of hate is “ice”. Frosts’ ‘Tuft of Flowers’ denotes the allure of nature drawing the persona away from the responsibilities of the real as he is distracted from the tasks that await him. The “waking birds around” and the personified “whispering” of the scythe, however, not only draws him back to the real world but also reconnects him with the others that he works with. The poem climaxes in both of them taking a rest at noon in the shade. It is here that he discovers that “men work together” and it is through our acceptance of the demands of the real world and the repetitive associated with rural life that allows us to connect with others either “together” or “apart” in this way the rewards of the actual shape our identity and alter our perception of the world. Thus, Frost again allows us to perceive how, while fantasy offers freedom from the incessant demands of life, it is the pragmatic necessities of daily life that establishes a connection between us and others.

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