In a Vale by Robert Frost (1943)
The poem explores the theme of isolation and loneliness through the speaker's journey to a valley where he encounters a frozen pond. The speaker reflects on his life choices and the consequences of his actions, symbolized by the frozen landscape. The poem suggests that the speaker has been living in a state of emotional numbness, unable to connect with others or find meaning in his life.
By Robert Frost · First published 1943 · Genre: Poetry, Lyric, Pastoral · 270 words
First lines
When I was young, we dwelt in a vale By a misty fen that rang all night, And thus it was the maidens pale I knew so well, whose garments trail Across the reeds to a window light.
The fen had every kind of bloom, And for every kind there was a face, And a voice that has sounded in my room Across the sill from the outer gloom.
Each came singly unto her place, But all came every night with the mist; And often they brought so much to say Of things of moment to which, they wist, One so lonely was fain to list, That the stars were almost faded away Before the last went, heavy with dew, Back to the place from which she came-
What this Textopian page supports
In a Vale is listed on Textopian as a poem by Robert Frost, dated 1943 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: 1943 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Lyric, Pastoral, Romantic, Mystical
- Length: 270 words
- Structure: 1 section, 7 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
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Genres
- Poetry — The work is structured in verse form with a rhythmic and lyrical quality, characteristic of poetry.
- Lyric — The poem expresses personal emotions and reflections, typical of the lyric genre.
- Pastoral — The setting and imagery focus on nature and rural life, aligning with pastoral themes.
- Romantic — The emphasis on emotion, nature, and individual experience reflects Romantic literary themes.
Tags
Poetry · Nature · Mortality · Existentialism · Philosophy · Symbolism · Imagery · Metaphor · Allegory · Realism · Romanticism · Solitude