Acquainted with the NightI have been one acquainted with the night.

I have walked out in rain-and back in rain.

I have outwalked the furthest city light

I have looked down the saddest city lane.

I have passed by the watchman on his beat

And dropped my eyes, unwilling to explain

I have stood still and stopped the sound of feet

When far away an interrupted cry

Came over houses from another street,

But not to call me back or say good-by;

And further still at an unearthly height,

One luminary clock against the sky

Proclaimed the time was neither wrong nor right.

I have been one acquainted with the night.

Robert Frost Biography

• Born in San Francisco, California• Lived from 1874-1963• Grew up in Massachusetts • Married Elinor White and had six children• Attended both Darthmouth College and Harvard• Wrote the Poem “Acquainted with the Night” in 1928• Once was a farmer and cobbler in New Hampshire• Published first collection of poems at 39 years old

Paraphrase

• Robert Frost reflects on a time in his life when he was once depressed and lonely. At some point he chose the wrong path in life and was forced to deal with the guilt. He had nobody to rely on and felt that he was the only one who he could depend on.

The Speaker and Setting

• The speaker of the poem was also the writer who was Robert Frost

• He was an older adult male who was probably Caucasian

• Frost addressed his personal experiences throughout the poem

• The setting of the poem was written in 1928 which illustrated various places to show Frosts’ state of mind

Title and Symbolical Meanings

• The title emphasizes that Frost has went through intense periods of depression and loneliness

• Symbolism• Watchmen- represents guilt when Frost drops his eyes• Stopped the sound of feet- represents loneliness and

nobody was there for him at this time in his life• Night- represents depression, darkness, regret, etc.

Author’s Language• Alliteration- “stood still and stopped the sound”

• Imagery- “Night”- dark, lonely

• Parallelism- “I have”- emphasizes actions that he has experienced

• Connotative- “Night”- brought out Frost’s feeling of loneliness and darkness

Theme

• Though Frost had hit rock bottom at one time and had nobody to assist or communicate with him, he worked his way out and became positive about life again. This poem was important because it can apply to ordinary people as they go through similar obstacles.