We're not going to lie, nature seems pretty darn scary in this poem. Not scary like it's going to throw thunderbolts at our speaker or let hungry tigers lose on him, but scary in that it is mysterious and even rather seductive. Our speaker is almost enticed into staying and watching the woods fill up with snow, but if he stays too long, we've got to believe that he might freeze to death, catch a really bad cold, or forget his way home. Nature is a beautiful siren in this poem, compelling our speaker to hang out in spite of the dangerous consequences.
Questions About Man and the Natural World
- Does our speaker like what he sees around him?
- Is nature a good thing in this poem?
- Do the woods play a different role in nature than the snow or the lake?
- What examples of nature do we see in this poem?
Chew on This
Try on an opinion or two, start a debate, or play the devil’s advocate.
Nature is a dangerous thing in the world of this poem.
The woods represent death to the speaker.