What is A Leaf-Treader by Robert Frost about?

Answer 1

Focus on the struggle of the poem.

The leaves represent many things; try not to say they are just X. The Leaves could be regrets, temptations, people.

Regrets of "another year" build up on the narrator's conscience. To continue on into the next he must stamp them down. They were always 'overhead' but at some point had to be confronted, had to 'pass him by'.

The struggle is important always in Frost. Whether it is the struggle against life's cruelties in 'Birches', the struggle when faced with choice in 'The Road Not Taken' struggle with the human condition in 'Neither Out Far nor in Deep' or struggle with existence in 'Desert Places and Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening'.

Here it takes an existential form. Existentialism holds that man in a seemingly absurd and meaningless universe (be careful...it depends from philosopher to philosopher so SEEMINGLY is the most tentative assertion) most create his own meaning. Nietzsche and Kierkergaard are worth a Google. Here we see Frost confront his existential 'angst'; that is to say the internal conflict that meaning may be somewhat lacking in the universe in a metaphysical sense and instead he must create it for himself. This is more explicit in 'Stopping by Woods...' but present here too. Frost does not give in to despair at this 'angst': instead he says 'Now up, my knee'. He perservers and heads on, he keeps 'on top of another year of snow'.

BUT he could have done otherwise. When confronted with this lack of external meaning in the universe, he could have become pretty depressed. So depressed that he wished no longer to exist. In existentialism Nietzsche described this as the 'will to nothingness'... I believe that's nihilism (check however). 'They spoke to the fugitive in my heart' and 'tapped at my eyelids' shows this will to cease to exist (IT IS NOT DEATH RATHER NOTHINGNESS) is speaking to his heart, his emotions. The tapping of the eyelids is tempting him into the same 'sleep' we see in 'Stopping by Woods'. Another analysis could take a psychoanalytical slant and see it as the 'destrudo' of the 'thanatos'; that is to say the psychic energy driving the 'death wish' almost overcoming the 'eros' or love of life of the 'libido' (I would move away from Freud's sexual slant).

Frost therefore faces a conflict. Does he give on or move on? We know he moves on, yet it is hardly an optimistic ending...rather life seems a burden: in 'Birches' he mentions 'when I am weary of considerations' and that sometimes 'Life is too much like a pathless wood'. With this knowledge of the 'absurdity' of his own existence comes no joy. Yet at least he lives. In 'Stopping by woods' we see him move further and create his own meaning realising people and 'promises' are the most crucial aspects of life not belief on God et al.

This is the most implicit reading...the least obvious. If it is people then he overcomes them: 'it was no reason I had to go because they had to go'. Contrast this with 'the road not taken' and you'll see its importance: he treads the path (arguably) less trodden on thus defining and becoming himself. Therefore the poem could also be a celebration of the human identity and independence in the face of conformity and expectation.

If the leaves are regret the meaning is further explicit: he pushes them down with 'stength' and driven by 'fear' yet nonetheless they remain 'safely trodden underfoot'. Perhaps again check out some psychoanalysis and 'repression'; the regrets and desires could be pushing through the unconsious into the consious, the id challenging the ego hence their constant presence 'overhead' and their 'threatening under their breath'. It would be an interesing point to develop but Frost would not have probably intended for it. However that does not matter at all in any reading of a text; what matters is your response (post-struturalism to any critics

The 'A' in the title means we all go through similar struggles...whether with the absurdity of our own existence in a meaningless universe, or with people and relationships, or with ourselves and our own desires.

The cyclical nature of the poem means like the seasons troubles will forever plague us...therefore we must forever resolve them.

Hope this helps a little...I dumbed it down a lot.

Answer 2

"A Leaf-Treader" by Robert Frost is a poem about the speaker's experience of walking through fallen leaves in an orchard. The speaker reflects on the passing of time and the cycle of life as he observes the leaves and imagines them as representing past generations. The poem conveys a sense of nostalgia and the inevitability of change.