Frost Commentary: The Tuft of Flowers

Quotes

Commentary

2. How does the poem use structure to bring about the development of its ideas? Within the poem, there is a shift in the point of view with almost each stanza that adds to the structure and aides in the development of the theme of physical and mental conict. The rst two stanzas are written in rst person. The third stanza is written in second person. The fourth stanza is written in third person. The fth stanza is written in rst person plural. The shift in the point of views allows the progression of ideas. Frost writes with a constant alternating end rhyme within the poem. This constant rhyme scheme creates a rhythmic and constant feel similar to the rhythm cutting a tree would require with the up and down movement of the axe or the side to side movement of the saw. This constant rhyme scheme indicates a state of suspension within the poem from the speakers point of view. This then furthers the theme of mental and physical conict. The constant rhyme scheme suggests that the speaker has a mental conict over the two lumberjacks and whether or not to offer them his own job. Throughout the poem, structure is furthered through the juxtaposition of nature and man, or things in tandem. The juxtapositions between nature and man allow the theme of physical and mental conict to be furthered by its addressing of the physical conict between both man and nature, and man versus man himself.

Men of the woods and lumberjacks,/ They judged me by their appropriate tool (line 53-54)

The time when most I loved my task/ The two must make me love it more/ By coming with what they came to ask (lines 41-43)

My avocation and my vocation (line 67)

8. In what ways does the nal line/stanza change your understanding of the poem as a whole?

Frost Commentary: The Tuft of Flowers

The nal stanza ends in ambiguity. We dont know whether the man who loves she chopping wood will give the two tramps his job because the y need it. The last stanza ultimately addresses moral standards, My object in living is to unite/ My avocation and my of whether or not to help those in need. This allows vocation (line 66-67) further understanding of the juxtaposition of nature and man because nature and man are seemingly always neck to neck. Likewise, this allows further understanding to the confusion of the man himself, of whether or not he should help the two tramps. The last stanza also addresses issues of life. It questions if one loves ones work (so that it seems to Only where love and need are one,/ And the work is be more of a relaxing time), will one ever really play for mortal stakes,/ Is the deed ever really done/ nish the work because it is so enjoying? This then For Heaven and the futures sakes (lines 69-72) allows the reader to understand why the speaker seems to be at war with himself from the very start of the poem when he rst sees the two tramps. The last stanza of the poem allows the reader to understand the mindset of the speaker at the start of I knew pretty well what he had in mind:/ He wanted the poem and the reason for his seemingly to take my job for pay (lines 7-8) weariness and inner turmoil over the two tramps. The nal stanza allows the reader to tie in the ambiguity with the start of the poem. 11. What effect does the title have on your understanding of the poem? The title literally refers to two tramps during spring time. This is because spring time is when its mud time. The usage of the word tramps also helps the reader understand the economic standings of the two individuals who cause the most speculation within the speaker. The title then allows the reader to understand why the speaker is at ends with himself of whether or not to give his job (that he loves and does not need for money) to the two tramps (who need it for money to make a living).

Two Tramps in Mud Time (title)

Frost Commentary: The Tuft of Flowers

The title also leads to the understanding of buried emotions within the speaker. Thus far in his life, the speaker has been happy cutting trees more as a hobby than of necessity like the two tramps. The title shows that when compared to the two tramps, the The lurking frost in the earth beneath/ That will steal speaker is denitely better off. In these lines, it is as forth after the sun is set/ And show on the water its if surprise is still lurking around the corner for the crystal teeth? (lines 38-40) two tramps, as if overnight, their predicament will continue to get worse. This is understanding furthered by the title because of the reference to the coming of spring and the two tramps (a rather unattering word). The two tramps in the title are contrasted with the seemingly well off speaker. When he sees the two tramps doing his job (chopping trees) as a job for necessity rather than enjoyment, he appreciates his hobby even more. He realizes the two tramps are there to ask for a job and the speaker begins to contemplate whether or not to give them the job throughout the poem. This leads to the end of ambiguity at the end of the poem.

The time when most I loved my task/ The two must make me love it more/ By coming with what they came to ask (lines 41-43)

18. In what ways and to what effect does the poem use comparison? The poem uses the juxtaposition between the sun/ warmth and the cold/chill. This leads to a sense of two opposing forces, just as the old man seems to be in opposition of the two tramps, but just as seasons give into each other, he (most likely) will give into the two tramps at the end and offer them his hobby as their job to earn a small amount for a living.

The sun was warm but the wind was chill (line 17)

Frost Commentary: The Tuft of Flowers

In the fourth stanza, the idea of spring is contrasted with the idea of winter. Frost writes it as if spring is almost here, and the forces of nature gradually waking up from its slumber during the winter. A single ower as yet to boom./ It is snowing a ake; However, he immediately follows that with the fact and he half knew/ Winter was only playing that winter is still present and has still time before it possum (lines 28-30) gives into spring. This then parallels with the speaker because if the speaker is winter, and the two tramps is change, then that means there is still sometime before the speaker will give into the tramps need for money. Within the poem, the contrast between water and frost/ ice is crucial. This is because owing water, is generally associated with the coming of life (spring). However in mentioning that frost is still lurking under the earth, he creates a sense that winter is still here and has yet to leave. This then parallels with the speaker and the tramps by introducing the idea that although the speaker is considering offering the two tramps his job, he has yet to do so. Which allows for the poem to end in ambiguity.

Be glad of water, but dont forget/ The lurking frost in the earth beneath/ That will steal forth after the sun is set/ And show on the water its crystal teeth (lines 37-40)