Ghost House by Robert Frost (1941)
The poem describes a house that has been abandoned for years and is now inhabited by ghosts. The speaker reflects on the past occupants of the house and their lives, which are now reduced to mere memories. The poem explores themes of loss, decay, and the transience of human existence.
By Robert Frost · First published 1941 · Genre: Poetry, Gothic, Nature · 308 words
First lines
I dwell in a lonely house I know That vanished many a summer ago, And left no trace but the cellar walls, And a cellar in which the daylight falls, And the purple-stemmed wild raspberries grow.
O'er ruined fences the grape-vines shield The woods come back to the mowing field; The orchard tree has grown one copse Of new wood and old where the woodpecker chops; The footpath down to the well is healed.
What this Textopian page supports
Ghost House is listed on Textopian as a poem by Robert Frost, dated 1941 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Robert Frost
- Date: 1941 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Gothic, Nature, Reflective, Mystery
- Length: 308 words
- Structure: 1 section, 9 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
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- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters
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Similar titles
- In The Dark by James Whitcomb Riley
- Storm Fear by Robert Frost
- The Intruder by Madison Cawein
- The Spider by Emily Dickinson
- Landors Cottage by Edgar Allan Poe
- The Sheiling by Edward Thomas
Genres
- Poetry — The work is structured in verse form, utilizing rhyme and meter, characteristic of poetry.
- Gothic — The themes of isolation, decay, and the presence of ghosts or spirits align with Gothic literature.
- Nature — The imagery of natural elements like wild raspberries, grape-vines, and the summer star highlights a focus on nature.
- Reflective — The poem's introspective tone and contemplation of the past suggest a reflective genre.
Tags
Poetry · Nature · Mystery · Supernatural · Haunted House · Atmosphere · Tension · Fear · Uncertainty · Isolation · Solitude · Darkness