How does Frost use metaphor to explore the concept of discovery?

According to the Oxford dictionary, a metaphor is an expression, often found in

literature, that describes a person or object by referring to something that is considered
to have similar characteristics to that person or object. Robert Lee Frost, one of the
most talented poets of his time incorporated the use of metaphors to explore the
concept of discovery. In his poems Mending Wall, Fire and Ice and After Apple Picking,
metaphors are used to assist and create a thorough understanding of the underlying
meanings of his poems. The four stages of discovery: departure, significant
experiences, revelation/epiphany and transformation are also evident in his poems. In
this essay, key concepts of discovery and how the use of metaphors explore discovery
in Frosts poems will be examined.
In Mending Wall, the entire poem is an extended metaphor to explore the concept of
discovery, in particular, the first stage; departure. The wall present throughout the
entire poem is a metaphor for the division that exists between the speaker and his
neighbor. In the beginning of the poem, Frost describes the speakers initial response of
the wall to be accepting. However, half way throughout the poem the personas
mentality changes as he starts to consider the possibility of the wall being pointless
and unnecessary. There where it is we do not need the wall line twenty-six. In this
quote, the reader is able to understand the speakers point of view. This change in his
original way of thinking exhibits the personas first stages of discovery, departure.
Without the use of metaphors, the wall would not be effective to explore the first
stage and concept of discovery.
Frost uses metaphors to show the aspects of nature and reveal the deep realities of life.
In After Apple Picking, the reader is able to experience the poems dense metaphorical
meaning. These elements of farming and apples, combined with the idea of sleep and
winter help emphasize particular parts of the personas discovery. In numerous parts of
the poem, examples of significant experiences (stage two of discovery) can be seen. An
example of this is clearly shown in lines twenty-seven to twenty-nine, where the
persona contemplates his lifes achievements and his hard work by using the metaphor
of a hard days work of picking apples and a dreamy sleep afterwards. "For I have had
too much / Of apple-picking; I am overtired / Of the great harvest I myself desired." This
metaphor helps emphasize the significance of the hard labour, which allows the reader
to grasp the understanding of the underlying meaning in the poem. Through the use of
metaphors to describe the personas significant experiences, the concepts of discovery
are efficiently explored.
In Fire and Ice, Frost uses an implied metaphor for the terms fire and ice. Fire
becomes a metaphor for human desire, which is made clear in lines three and four;
From what Ive tasted of desire / I hold with those who favor fire. On the other hand,
ice works as a metaphor for hatred, which is implied in line six and seven; I think I
know enough of hate / To say that for destruction ice. This allows the reader to
understand the third stage of discovery, epiphany/revelation. This stage of discovery is
evident when the persona realizes that if he would die twice, he would die by the
iciness of human hatred. This poetic technique of metaphor helps the reader
understand the poem on a deeper level. This technique creates a direct comparison of
imagery so one can visualize the connection between two objects or things. In the
poem it is evident how Frost uses implied metaphor to help explore the concept of the
third stage of discovery.
Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening is another lovely poem written by Frost that
also exhibits the use of metaphors to explore the concept of discovery. In this lyrical
poem, the speaker is stopping by some woods on a snowy evening. He/she takes in the
lovely scene in near-silence, and is tempted to stay longer, but acknowledges the
obligations and considerable distance yet to be traveled before he or she can rest for

the night. An example of the use of metaphor is in line sixteen- And miles to go before
I sleep. The term miles used in the fourth stanza of the poem is a metaphor to create
an idea of how much more of life he has to live. This quote also reflects the final stage
of discovery. The transformation seen in the last stanza of the poem shows the change
of the persona from considering taking his life, to realizing the responsibilities he has
to keep. If it were not for metaphors, the poem would not be as effective in conveying
the message of the discoveries and transformations in ones life.

Frost uses metaphors in many ways to address and explore the concept of discovery.
Frost does so by writing his poems in a way where it reflects the four stages of
discovery: departure, significant experiences, epiphany/revelation and transformation.
The references to the stages of discovery occur in the four poems cited Mending Wall,
After Apple Picking, Fire and Ice and Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening. On a
whole, Frost includes the stages of discovery to explore the concept of discovery
through metaphors.