Analysis A Brook In The City
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The poem describes a brook that was once part of a rural landscape but has been covered over by a growing city. The brook was strong and full of life, but it has now been confined underground in darkness as a sewer, its natural flow disrupted. The poet wonders if the thoughts and anxieties of the modern city dwellers are in part caused by their disconnection from nature and destruction of natural places like this brook. The poem is a criticism of urbanization and the prioritization of development over protecting natural spaces and environments.
Analysis A Brook In The City
- 1. Analysis A Brook in the City by Robert Frost
- 2. The farmhouse lingers, though averse to square With the new city street it has to wear A number in. But what about the brook That held the house as in an elbow-crook? I ask as one who knew the brook, its strength And impulse, having dipped a finger length And made it leap my knuckle, having tossed A flower to try its currents where they crossed. The meadow grass could be cemented down From growing under pavements of a town; The apple trees be sent to hearth-stone flame. Is water wood to serve a brook the same? How else dispose of an immortal force No longer needed? Staunch it at its source With cinder loads dumped down? The brook was thrown Deep in a sewer dungeon under stone In fetid darkness still to live and run --
- 3. And all for nothing it had ever done Except forget to go in fear perhaps. No one would know except for ancient maps That such a brook ran water. But I wonder If from its being kept forever under, The thoughts may not have risen that so keep This new-built city from both work and sleep. Robert Frost
- 4. Robert Frost the great American poet has given his panoramic view on nature and man meanness. His response to nature is entirely realistic. The poem a brook in the city was written somewhat in early 1920 when history was witnessing Industrial Revolution and urbanization. It was at that time man became an evil and the outcome was the devastation and extinction of nature.
- 5. In the poem the poet has described the brook in the city as mortal. He expands his thoughts and further says that in the city which is urbanized with tall buildings, monuments, and farmhouses where there is a small drain of water flowing. This little sewage was once a strong brook. Those who’re familiar with brook are aware of its strength. The one who has dipped his fingers in it, the one who has walked on it, the one who has smelt the fragrance of its floating flowers can well understand its futility and strength.
- 6. But this man in his lone, selfish greed has even cemented this fresh green grass. The apple tree has lost its identity instead it has become a strong wooden house. In its greed and zeal man has challenged nature and converted something which was immortal to mortal. Infect because of man’s modernization the brook which was a symbol of force is now nothing more then a weak and meek sewer. At night it still flows. A time would come when people would forget that there was a brook which existed. It would only exist on maps. The poet wonders if man could ever ever understand his mistake. The man who is so engrossed in his personal growth will he ever be able to understand that the brook in the city also deserved an accomplished life.
- 7. This poem has a specific rhyming scheme, and it stays consistent throughout the poem. There are many examples of personification: “The farm house lingers.”, “…Brook/That held…” etc. An example of a hyperbole is used within this poem: “…The meadow grass could be cemented down…” This is a hyperbole as well as a metaphor, as the grass is not literally cemented down, it is symbolizing how nature is become overcome by cities. This poem is a good example of imagery. It creates the images of a peaceful brook, and a hectic city, and it compares the two. Some of the stylistic choices help create these images. There is little harsh language within the poem, which creates the image of a peaceful brook.
- 8. The poet has written about the actions of ordinary men who are real and who are mingled in their self interest and in the process they have forgotten the interest of nature. The objects of his extract, spaced out, prosaic rhythms have the tremendous strength of things merely put down and left to speak for themselves like in the poem the brook speaks for itself. The poem is frost attempt to sensitize man or else his deed would pay back his actions.