Ａ Ｓｔｙｌｉｓｔｉｃ Ａｎａｌｙｓｉｓ ｏｆ“Ｓｔｏｐｐｉｎｇ ｂｙ Ｗｏｏｄｓ ｏｎ ａ Ｓｎｏｗｙ Ｅｖｅｎｉｎｇ”

刘　颖

Abstract:This paper gives a stylistic analysis of the poem “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening” by American poet Robert Frost, and then probes how the author achieves his expected goal through attracting readers' attention and leaving them much space to create their own imagination.

Key words:stylistics analysis "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening" Robert Frost

I. Introduction

Stylistics is an inter-discipline across two academic fields linguistics and literary criticism; a discipline that studies of language use from the linguistic perspective(Yu Xueyong 2). This paper looks into the poem "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening" by Robert Frost, and makes a stylistic analysis of it.

Robert Frost is one of the foremost American poets and a four-time winner of the Pulitzer Prize . In this poem, the author stands between the nature and the human society watching the woods covered by the snow. While enjoying the boundless charm of the woods, he recollects his promise, determining to fulfill his responsibility.

II. Stylistic Analysis of the Poem

1.End Rhyme

A rhyme is a repetition of identical or similar sounds in two or more different words and is most often used in poetry and songs. End rhymes, the most frequent type, occur at the end of a verse.

In this poem, there are five end rhymes: (1) [紆]: know, though, snow (line 1, 2, and 4).(2) [i糫: here, queer, near, year (line 3, 5, 6 and 8). (3) [eik]: lake, shake, mistake, flake (line 7, 9, 10 and 12).(4) [i:p]: sweep, deep, keep, sleep (line 11, 13,14, 15 and 16 ).

2. Alliteration

Alliteration refers to the repetition of initial identical sounds at the beginning of words. We can see many examples of alliteration in this poem. They help to create harmonious sound.

Example: (1) sound's the sweep (line 11): seriate use of [s] makes readers be caught in the woods vividly hearing the sound of the wind and flake. (2) dark and deep (line 13): double [d]s are used as a whole in order to emphasize the dim and deep woods.

3.Pronouns

A pronoun is a pro-form that substitutes for a noun phrase, such as "you" and "they" in English.

Throughout the poem, the narrator "I" is consistent. The narrator tells the occurrence and speaks directly about himself. This makes the condition seem quite factual and vivid to the readers.

Example: (1) Whose woods these are I think I know. (line 1).(2) But I have promise to keep, (line 14). (3)And miles to go before I sleep. (line 15). (4)And miles to go before I sleep. (line 16) .

4. Hyperbaton

Hyperbaton is a figure of speech in which words that naturally belong together are separated from each other for emphasis or effect. In the beginning of the poem Frost uses hyperbaton in order to emphasize the essential role the word "woods" plays through the whole poem.

Example: Whose woods these are I think I know. (line 1)

5.Repetition

Repetition is a poetic device that repeats its self over and over again.

Frost adopts the form of repetition to stress the significance of his responsibilities while providing ambiguity without stating what "sleep" means. Here "sleep" implies whether "falling to sleep" or "passing away" is not so crucial. In stead, it is an interesting point arousing readers' imagination. Readers may get own unique understanding from this meaningful expression.

Example: And miles to go before I sleep.

And miles to go before I sleep. (line 15 and 16)

6. Metaphor

It is a figure of speech which makes a comparison between two unlike elements having at least one quality or characteristic in common. In this poem, the most significant figure of speech is metaphor. "Woods" implies nature, "house" and "village" suggest "real world", and the owner of the "house" represents "human in society". Frost used common words instead of big words succeeding describing a lovely but mysterious nature.

7.Hyperbole

Hyperbole is a figure of speech in which exaggeration is used to emphasize a point, to create humor, or to achieve some similar effect.

Example: The darkest evening of the year. (line 8) .The choice of "darkest" not only conveys the literal meaning but also expresses the author's confusion through an exaggeration.

8. Personification

Personification is a figure of speech in which an object is spoken of as though it were endowed with life or with human feelings.

Here in this poem the horse seems to "ask if there is some mistake" (line 10). Personifying his horse helps to enhance the degree to which the author feels "queer" in this situation. It shows to the readers how "queer" the action he takes is so as to even "the horse" is puzzled.

III. Conclusion

Having analyzed this poem by examining it in detail and considering the linguistic features of it, a more objective criticism can be obtained. Furthermore, by means of this stylistic analysis, a literary wok can be interpreted effectively, scientifically, and correctly, thus a fuller understanding and appreciation of it will be achieved.

Reference:

[1]Abrams M.H. A Glossary of Literary Terms [M].Beijing: Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press,2004.

[2]Leech G. A Linguistic Guide to English Poetry[M]. Beijing: Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press,2001.

[3]刘守兰.英美明诗解读[M].上海:上海外语教育出版社,2003.

[4]陶洁.美国文学选读[M].北京:高等教育出版社, 2000.

[5]于学勇,张其云.卡明斯诗歌“in just”的前景化解析[J].杭州电子科技大学学报(社科版),2007,(02):49-52.