“Range Finding” has a relatively straightforward structure. It is laid out in the form of a sonnet. It contains fourteen lines of iambic pentameter that are split into two stanzas. The first stanza is an octave consisting of eight lines, and its rhyme scheme is ABBAABBA. Stanza two differs, as it takes the from of a sestet containing six lines with the rhyme scheme CCDEED.
Frost’s diction seems to be well thought out and articulated. He uses vivid language in order to paint mental pictures. Most …show more content…
Stanza two introduces a shift in perspective from nature as a whole to the spider whose cobweb was mentioned in the first line. In the beginning of the sestet, Frost describes a spider weaving a web overnight before using the second half to illustrate the aftermath of a bullet passing through the web. He writes “The indwelling spider ran to greet the fly. / But finding nothing, sullenly withdrew” (13-14). Frost’s use of words like “sullenly” (14) and “indwelling” (13) humanize the spider in order to procure empathy from readers.
Throughout the entire poem, Frost maintains language similar to this - words that will register in readers as being closely related to humanity - to describe nature in order to humanize it. This is especially seen when he describes the cobweb as “diamond-strung” (1) and “straining cables” (11). Also, it can be recognized when Frost says the “spider ran to greet the fly” (13). All of these words are essentially used in regards to humanity. Humans run, use cables for utilities, and wear diamonds. Portraying nature the way he does, Frost allows humans to empathize with