Critically Appreciate the Poems, “Home Burial” and “After Apple-Picking”
Robert Frost is one of the most celebrated American poets known for his deep insight into human emotions and relationships, often set against the backdrop of rural life. Two of his well-known poems, “Home Burial” and “After Apple-Picking,” provide a rich field for literary analysis through their exploration of grief, communication, work, and spiritual longing. Though very different in theme and structure, both poems reveal Frost’s mastery over form, tone, and imagery.
1. Home Burial: A Study of Grief and Miscommunication
“Home Burial” is a dramatic dialogue between a grieving mother and her emotionally distant husband after the death of their child. The poem presents two different ways of dealing with grief—while the woman is openly emotional, the man seems stoic and confused by her reaction.
Use of Dialogue and Tone
Frost uses conversational language and dramatic monologue to create a realistic and intense exchange between the couple. The woman’s words are sharp and filled with pain, while the man tries to explain his silence and stoicism. This difference in emotional expression creates a sense of growing distance between the two.
Theme of Isolation
One of the key themes is emotional isolation. Although they are physically close, they are emotionally far apart. The woman feels misunderstood and unsupported, while the man is puzzled by her accusations. Frost shows how a lack of communication can destroy relationships, especially in times of emotional crisis.
Imagery and Symbolism
The stairway, where the woman stands looking outside, symbolizes the emotional divide between the couple—she is elevated, distant, and looking outward, while he is grounded and looks inward. The child’s burial scene, described indirectly, adds to the emotional weight of the poem.
2. After Apple-Picking: Meditation on Work and Mortality
In “After Apple-Picking,” Frost shifts focus to a farmer who reflects on his exhaustion after a day of picking apples. But as the poem unfolds, the apples and the act of picking take on deeper meanings related to life, death, and the nature of human efforts.
Dream vs. Reality
The poem moves between reality and dream, with the speaker drifting into a sleepy, dreamlike state. This blurred boundary reflects the confusion and fatigue that often accompany physical labor and aging. The speaker wonders if his drowsiness is ordinary sleep or the approach of death.
Symbolism
The apples represent tasks, goals, or even experiences of life. The ladder pointing “toward heaven” may suggest spiritual aspirations or the nearness of death. The speaker’s weariness is more than physical—he feels the weight of life’s unfinished work and worries about its significance.
Structure and Language
Unlike the conversational tone of “Home Burial,” this poem has a more lyrical and reflective tone. Frost uses varied rhyme schemes and line lengths to create a sense of movement and fading energy. The irregular form mirrors the speaker’s mental drift between alertness and sleep.
Comparison and Conclusion
Both poems explore themes of human limitation—emotional in “Home Burial” and physical/spiritual in “After Apple-Picking.” They reveal how people cope differently with pain and the passage of time. While one poem focuses on a relationship strained by grief, the other meditates on the end of life and the value of one’s labor.
In conclusion, Robert Frost, through these two poems, explores the complexity of human experiences with deep emotional and philosophical insights. His simple language and natural settings enhance the emotional depth, making these poems timeless reflections on life, death, and the fragile nature of human connection.