Here’s a comprehensive biography of Robert Frost, one of America’s most celebrated poets:
Full Name: Robert Lee Frost
Born: March 26, 1874 – San Francisco, California, USA
Died: January 29, 1963 – Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Nationality: American
Profession: Poet, Teacher, Playwright
Known For: Realistic depictions of rural life and use of American colloquial speech.
Early Life & Education
- Parents: William Prescott Frost Jr. (journalist) and Isabelle Moodie.
- After his father’s death in 1885, his family moved to Lawrence, Massachusetts.
- Attended Dartmouth College and later Harvard University, but didn’t earn a formal degree.
- Worked various jobs, including teaching and farming, while developing his poetry.
Literary Career & Major Works
Robert Frost’s poetry is known for exploring themes of nature, individualism, rural life, and philosophical depth.
🔹 First Major Breakthrough
- Published his first collection, “A Boy’s Will” (1913), while living in England.
- Followed by “North of Boston” (1914), which gained international acclaim.
🔹 Famous Poems
- The Road Not Taken
- Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening
- Mending Wall
- Birches
- Fire and Ice
- Nothing Gold Can Stay
🔹 Style and Themes
- Traditional verse forms (blank verse, meter, rhyme) with modern themes.
- Often centered on New England landscapes and common people.
- Subtle, sometimes dark exploration of choices, isolation, and the human condition.
Teaching & Public Life
- Taught at several institutions, including Amherst College and University of Michigan.
- Served as a poetry consultant to the Library of Congress (1958–59).
- Recited “The Gift Outright” at John F. Kennedy’s inauguration in 1961 — the first poet to do so.
Awards & Honors
- Pulitzer Prize for Poetry – 4 times (more than any other poet):
- New Hampshire (1924)
- Collected Poems (1931)
- A Further Range (1937)
- A Witness Tree (1943)
- Congressional Gold Medal (1960)
- Honorary degrees from universities including Oxford and Harvard.
Personal Life
- Married Elinor Miriam White in 1895; they had six children.
- Faced personal tragedies including the loss of several children and his wife.
- Despite his public success, he endured bouts of depression and grief privately.
Death & Legacy
- Died on January 29, 1963, of complications from prostate surgery.
- Buried in Bennington, Vermont.
Robert Frost’s work remains a cornerstone of American literature. His ability to capture profound meaning in simple rural settings continues to influence poets, readers, and thinkers around the world.
Famous Quote
“In three words I can sum up everything I’ve learned about life: it goes on.”