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Kylie Bergman

Curmano
Honors English P.6
17 February 2016
Asking for Roses Essay Response
Robert Frost led a life full of both exciting and tragic experiences from which he reflects
into his work. His tragedies began with his father dying when Frost was eleven, and from then on
he lost many of his loved ones to death, including his mother, sister, and four of his children
(Robert Frost.). Although his life was plagued in tragedy, Frost also had many adventures
traveling throughout the United States and Europe. This was where he got most of his inspiration
from other poets he met such as Edward Thomas (Robert Frost.). Frost captures us with his
heartfelt, elaborate writings, set in the simplicities of life. He traveled much and moved fast, but
also took time to find love and have calm moments. The poem Asking for Roses brings out
Robert Frosts passionate side by writing about a couple in love, telling us that we need to seize
the precious moments we have in life before theyre gone.
The poetic devices in Robert Frosts Asking for Roses add to the theme that when
opportunities are provided they must be taken and lived out. And knock to the echoes as
beggars for roses.(Asking for Roses 12). Frosts use of end-stopped, in nearly every line, forces
the reader to read the poem slowly. This allows the reader to really contemplate what is being
said and to be in the moment along with the speaker. Frost alludes to a famous poet Old
Herrick(18), who wrote a known line saying Gather ye roses while ye may. This line was
taken from the Carpe Diem-themed poem which means seize the day in Latin. This use of
allusion promotes the entire theme of needing to seize the moments you you are offered in life.

Frost also uses the simplicity of rhyme scheme to capture the moment between this couple.
With doors that none but the wind ever closes,(2) It stands in a garden of old fashioned
roses.(4), by rhyming the second and fourth line and every stanza with the word roses, it not
only expands the rhyming scheme, but also adds to the symbolism of a rose. Roses are
commonly used to symbolize love, so by using this specific object, Frost allows the reader to
understand the moment of love and patience the couple is having in the poem.
Robert Frosts Asking for Roses uses a bold tone to communicate with us that we need
to seize the moments we have with those we love before they are gone. But one we must ask if
we want any roses.(Asking For Roses 8). Frost uses the woman in this poem to be the bold
instigator to seize the opportunity of getting these roses. Frost uses the bold tone through her to
tell the reader that we must seize the moments we have with those we love. The speaker also
creates a bold tone when he quotes Robert Herricks Carpe Diem poem as he yells into the empty
house, Old Herrick: a saying that every maid knows is/A flower unplucked is but left to the
falling,(18,19). The speaker shouts to the world that precious opportunities are meant to be
seized, and if they are not then they are lost. Frost uses tone words such as
must(8),Bestir(15), and knock(12) to add to the bold, brave tone communicated that we
must be those things when we seize our lifes moments.
Asking for Roses by Robert Frost displays that even in the midst of Frosts crazy
adventures he learned the hard way, through tragedy, to take time and have patient, serene
moments with those he loved because he didnt know how much time he would have with them.
This poem revealed how he really felt about taking advantage of those moments we take for
granted. The poem communicates to us that when there is a chance to have a great experience we
need to seize it, because if we dont the opportunity may not be there tomorrow.

Works Cited

Frost, Robert. "Asking For Roses Poem." Poemhunter.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Feb. 2016.
<http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/asking-for-roses/>.
Frost, Robert. "Asking For Roses." Poemhunter.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Feb. 2016.
<http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/asking-for-roses/>.
Frost, Robert. "The Road Not Taken." Poetry Foundation. Poetry Foundation, n.d. Web.
17 Feb. 2016. <http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/173536>.
"Robert Frost." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 17 Feb. 2016.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Frost>.

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