Robert Frost in “ Nothing Gold Can Stay’ (Frost, “ Nothing Gold Can Stay”), and “ Meeting and Passing’ (Frost, Meeting and Passing) are only two examples Of the many literary works that have successfully used imagery and syntax to take full advantage of the opportunities they create in a literary work. Imagery is a key element in both of these short poems that alter the way in which the reader ultimately perceives the work as a whole. Syntax in both of these short poems enhances its meanings and contributes towards its tone.
Although these two short poems similarly use both imagery and syntax, they have distinct differences also because these elements are used in different ways to convey different messages.
For instance, the use of imagery in Frost’s “ Nothing Gold Can Stay” resents eight lines that emphasize the importance of nature in this short poem. Frost starts out by stating that nature’s first green is gold. By this he is referring to the season of spring, and how the trees resemble a golden shade of color before they mature.
This can also be related to the sun rising and setting, and how this appears to be golden as well. “ Green is the first mark of spring, the assurance of life; yet in fact the first flush of vegetation for the New England birch and the willow is not green but the haze of delicate gold. Hence green is a theory or sign of spring; gold is the fact” (Ferguson) Frost in eater lines personifies nature to be that of a woman, thus mother nature, while also stating how hard it is to maintain this shade of golden color.
He then metaphorically states how her early leaf is a flower, something that is precious yet delicate. However, this preciousness can only last for a short period of time, and the metaphorical leaf that is a flower, subsides or falls into being just a leaf once again. “ It is a gentle replacement for an expected term of expansion or growth, and suggests a sigh of disappointment as leaf turns out to be not flower but more leaf-? that is, as immature leaves are placed by advancing ones. The fall of humanity in Eden came by such a process” (Marcus).
Further lines relate this to the fall of man, when Eden sank to grief, and the balance of nature was broken in result of Eve and Adams actions. What resulted was sin, and the gold that represented balance and beauty faded away in a short time, just as spring vanishes quickly as the days and seasons pass by. The syntax in this short poem is verbally utilized to describe the verbal imagery taking place. Frost utilized quickness, decisiveness and speed as he added to this text by using short phrases and short ententes.
He was able to make his point by merely using a few sentences.
The mood of the reader is affected by his use of such few words, which force the reader to contemplate these few sentences repeatedly until they come to focus on the big picture. Once they analyze “ Nothing Gold Can Stay” (Frost) they most likely felt as though beauty and perfection last for only a short duration of time. The tone of the narrator seems to portray these same feelings, which ultimately provoked the reader to come to this conclusion in the first place. Additionally, the use of imagery in “ Meeting and Passing” by Robert Frost describes two people meeting for the first time.
By using the imagery of the gate, we come to the conclusion that they are separated from one another, and this is further described as one of the two is coming up the hill. Suggesting that one of them is currently is at the bottom in a rough situation, while the other is at the top in a successful position. As the day went on, they socialized more and more but were not as one. Suggesting that they are in a relationship even if it is just On an acquaintance basis and not yet marriage. The imagery of the parasol is also relating to them being more than one but less than two, placing them at one point something.
One of the two individuals has a low self-esteem but when the other looks down, this person gets self-reassurance that maybe he/she amounts to more than just nothing.
This person does not feel judged by the other, and although they have just started their relationship at the end of the day it is still on a friendship basis. Although each of them has passed what the other has passed, they don’t go through the exact same experiences that they would go wrought if they were to become married and become as one. However, they each partake in each other’s experiences to an extent.
Even though they are not connected, they are not separated either.
‘ The last line is a small wonder, not least because of its compression and because its iambs fall emphatically on the two verbs, the pronouns you and l, and the second half of before. The moment “ we met,” over too soon, was the moment poised between “ before” and “ after” as each of us enters the other’s past, which is also his or her own future” (Lehman). The syntax of this short story is of a serious matter that requires contemplation so this is why Frost used long sentences to truly emphasize the meaning of the work as a whole.
The use of syntax forces the reader to contemplate a series of sentences that take longer to analyze and require more focus to understand the big picture thus affecting their mood to the story. Once the reader thoroughly analyzes “ meeting and passing” they will more than likely understand that although these two had just met, after talking for that day, even as they were not together as a couple, they were not impolitely separated from one another either.
The tone Of the narrator tends to convey the same message as well, by giving several hints by imagery and syntax that would lead the reader to this conclusion.
Furthermore, although Frost uses imagery and syntax in both “ Nothing Gold Can Stay”, and “ meeting and passing’, certain distinctions can be found that separate and join and separate these two poems from one another. Such differences in imagery include; the sinfulness of human nature (“ Nothing Gold Can Stay) vs..
The joining of men and woman in human nature (“ Meeting and Passing”), prying (“ Nothing Gold Can Stay”) vs.. Summer (“ Meeting and Passing”), and one focuses more on nature more than human nature.
Thus, similarities in imagery including the use of human nature, seasons, and time as all determining factors in the meaning of the work as a whole. Differences in syntax include; quickness and speed with few sentences “ Nothing Gold Can Stay/’ vs..
Contemplation with multiple sentences “ Meeting and Passing’. Similarities in syntax include; both poems enhance and contribute toward the mood and its tone. With this in mind, imagery and syntax play a key role in determining how an author portrays his/her work, and how the intended audience’s react toward that specific literary work.
Robert Frost efficiently utilized both elements in constructing “ Nothing Gold Can Stay’ and “ Meeting and Passing’.
This allowed the reader to establish a mood along with the tone that the narrator provided. This also allowed the reader to better recognize differences and similarities in these two short poems. All of these elements help to understand the big picture. Thus, coming to the conclusion of what the meaning of these works as a whole is.
