Robert Frost Acquainted With The Night Analysis

In Robert Frost’s sonnet Acquainted with the Night, the speaker finds himself questioning the greater triumphs of darkness and light. Throughout the poem, the speaker goes on a journey of self-discovery, but finds loneliness on his walk. The speaker goes on to contemplate life and his place within society. It is of common knowledge that Robert Frost often dealt with complex depression due to many events in his life. Frost’s father died when he was just a boy and only two of his six children outlived him, which makes it safe to say that Frost’s depression led to some of his greatest poems. In this poem, the speaker takes long walks during the night, through the rain in order to contemplate life’s wonders. The speaker even passes strangers on his journey’s, but does not stop, does not speak, because he himself knows how peculiar he looks wondering around in the darkness of night. It is not clear if the speaker is Frost himself, although it is general consciences that due to …show more content…
“I have been one acquainted with the night.” Tells the reader that the speaker is familiar with what they are discussing or the action that is taking place over the period of this poem. The words, “I have been…” also tells the reader that this action is something the speaker is currently taking place in. Contrary to if the lines had read, I had been, or I will be. It makes the speaker’s motives clear to the reader that the action taking place has been a reoccurring activity for the speaker. It is also unclear whether the speaker is using the night as a literal meaning or if there is a deeper type of symbolism about mental illness taking place. Most believe the poem holds both meanings considering the author’s association to depression throughout his life. Although no one knows for sure, the night may signify depression as a whole and one’s journey through