Acquainted With the NightBy Robert Frost

Alexis HartmanAndrew Samstag

Jessica Smith

Literary Devices

• Repetition: “I have” and “I have been one acquainted with the night”

• Personification: “saddest city lane” and the clock “proclaiming” the time

• Alliteration: “Stood still and stopped the sound”

• Symbolism throughout entire poem– Watchman is conscience

Theme

• Guilt and depression• Changing the norm of his everyday life to cope

with that depression over a long period of time

• Critics say that it is about exploring new techniques of poetry

Rhyme Scheme

• End/Terminal Rhyme:

I 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-bye; And further still at an unearthly height, O luminary clock against the sky

Proclaimed the time was neither wrong nor right. I have been one acquainted with the night.

ABABCBCDCDADAA

Speaker

• Written in First person• From the perspective of a person with

depression caused from guilt. • Hurt loved ones in the past – Possibly referring to father

Pictures

Robert Frost

• 1874-1963 • Lived in San Francisco but then moved to

Massachusetts when his father died– Depression could have resulted from death of

father

• Worked on a rural farm but then moved into a city where he worked in a factory

• He did not enjoy that period of time• City served as inspiration for symbolism

Acquainted with the Night• I 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-bye;• And further still at an unearthly height,• A luminary clock against the sky

• Proclaimed the time was neither wrong nor right.• I have been one acquainted with the night.

Walking out in the rain (and unable to escape it) symbolizes sadness and going in and out of depression; melancholy tone

shows he is walking in darkness which symbolizes depression

The speaker does not wish to confront his conscience, knowing he was in the wrong.

Could represent his Father crying out

Father is in heaven before they were able to patch up relationship

Shows how he regrets his father’s timing of death

Repetition showing how the speaker is still in his depression; developing melancholy tone