Design by Robert Frost Summary Analysis & Interpretation
The poem 'Design' begins with the speaker discussing a spider and moth he found on the top of a flower. They came together there, as if kindred spirits, in order for the spider to eat the moth. He wonders over this convergence and equates it to a witch’s brew. There are a few light-hearted lines in which the speaker plays about potion-related imagery. He then transitions in the sestet to discuss design, creation, and more broadly, God.
Summary of the Poem
The poem “Design” by Robert Frost explains the design of the creator and HIS creations with death and chaos. It begins with the spider which climbs up to claim its prey, the moth which is found on a top of a flower. With this incident, the poet explains the creation which has been designed by God.
“Design” is a fourteen-line sonnet, divided into two stanzas. The first part contains eight lines which are known as octet and the second part is six lines which are known as sestet. Robert Frost follows the Petrarchan rhyme scheme.
Interpretation
“I found a dimpled spider, fat and white,
On a white heal-all, holding up a moth
Like a white piece of rigid satin cloth--
Assorted characters of death and blight
Mixed ready to begin the morning right,
Like the ingredients of a witches' broth--
A snow-drop spider, a flower like a froth,
And dead wings carried like a paper kite.”
The poem beings with the first-person narration. “I found a fat dimpled white spider, taking rest on a white heal-all flower. The spider was holding a white moth like a white piece of tight satin cloth. Both images of death and blight were composed for the purpose to start the morning, as the ingredients of a witches’ soup as a snow-white spider, a flower looking like foam and the soft wings of the dead moth which are like a paper kite being carried away by the spider.
Thus Robert Frost describes the natural process of a white spider which is climbing onto a white flower with the dead moth as it is its prey. This makes the speaker think of life as a brutal act and the influence of the superpower over the universe with a clever pattern of life moves. There is another twisted view to this design, the supreme power (God) is no more exists in the pattern and the people are alone and tasting the power of darkness and evil.
Analysis of the Poem
The poem starts with a first-person narration to explain the experience of the poet and the readers could enjoy the beauty of the nature as visual images in “a dimpled spider, fat” and white heal blight (plant), colours are used such as white symbolizing purity and linking the action of the spider as pure one, for the spider acts as per its nature and its design cannot be changed. Like a white piece of rigid satin cloth, the witches’ broth, flower-like froth and dead wings like paper kites are some good expressions to enjoy the Similies from the poet
“On a white heal-all, holding up a moth” – Ironically the poet says the “heal all” plant cannot heal the dead moth. The action of the spider would be seen as an evil action. But it cannot be blamed, as its nature is to hunt its prey.
Death, blight, spider and white satin cloth juxtapose or compare as they contrast each other.
The comparison of human characteristics or behaviour to a god, animal, or object. Is called anthropomorphism. The dimpled spider is a good example where the human character is seen in the spider.
Alliteration can be seen in “Flower-like a froth”
Thus this Octave opens with a different atmosphere so as to enjoy nature but very soon it turns opposite to that and makes the readers to think deeply with agony and pain.
“What had that flower to do with being white,
The wayside blue and innocent heal-all?
What brought the kindred spider to that height,
Then steered the white moth thither in the night?
What but design of darkness to appall?--
If design govern in a thing so small.”
These lines start with a series of questions. They are very much thought. The questions focus on how the innocent little flower is white whereas the heal-all flowers in blue. What made the spider climb up onto the heal-all, and steer the moth in the night. Whatever the design could be, the occurrence of the scene is quite scary to those who witness it. The natural process of nature is trivial but thoughtful and so full of darkness to frighten to those who have seen it. the poet gives an ending by expressing the reality of life.
“Design of darkness to appal?—“the poet compares (metaphor) the designs to the darkness of evil created by the Almighty. “Darkness and design are good examples of alliteration.
“Brought the kindred spider to that height,” the poet brings out the human quality of kindness in humans. Anthropomorphism is used to bring out the human quality.
The tone of the poem is quite deep thinking of the design of life in a serious, ironic way.
The colour of the spider and moth and the flower is white which links symbolically and refers to purity and holiness.
The sonnet is fourteen lines separated into two parts. The first part is an octave which contains eight lines and the second part is a sestet with six lines. The rhyme pattern follows as ABBAABBAACAACC.
The end of the poem questions the pattern of God. The poet thus wonders if there is any such sort of design exists. Life itself is a small thing to wonder at the creator of the design.
About the Poet Robert Frost
Robert Lee Frost was an American poet. He was born on March 1874, his works were published in England before they were published in the United States. His works were well known for their realistic style and simple lifestyle. Robert Frost’s works were based on the rural setting of 20th century England.
He won his first Pulitzer Prizes for “A Poem with Notes and Grace Notes, “collected Poems”, and “A Further Range in 1937. In 1934 he spent the winter months in Florida. In 1940 he became the owner of a 5-acre plot in Florida and spent his rest of his life there. He was honoured with the Congressional Gold Medal in 1960 for his poetic works. He became the poet laureate of Vermont on 22 July 1961. Frost died on January 29th, 1963 due to prostate surgery. He was buried at the Old Bennington Cemetery in Bennington, Vermont.