Robert Frost remains one of America’s most beloved and celebrated poets of the 20th century. Known for his accessible language and depictions of rural New England life, his work often explores complex philosophical and emotional terrain. Beyond his widely read poems, his life was marked by significant achievements and profound personal challenges. Here are 5 facts about Robert Frost that offer insight into the man behind the timeless verses.
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1. A Stacked Shelf of Honors: Pulitzers and a Gold Medal
Frost’s contribution to American literature was recognized with an impressive array of accolades. He is one of only a handful of individuals to have been awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry four times, winning in 1924, 1931, 1937, and 1943 for collections that captured the American spirit and landscape. Further cementing his status among famous authors of poetry, President John F. Kennedy presented him with the U.S. Congressional Gold Medal in 1960, recognizing his profound cultural impact.
President John F. Kennedy presents the US Congressional Gold Medal to renowned poet Robert Frost.
2. The First Poet at a Presidential Inauguration
In a historic moment, Robert Frost was invited to read a poem at the inauguration of John F. Kennedy in 1961. This marked the first time a poet had been included in the official ceremony. Though he intended to read a new work, glare and wind made it difficult to see his page, leading the aged poet to instead recite his well-known poem “The Gift Outright” from memory. This poem, often seen as a historical example of narrative in poetry, speaks to the settling and claiming of America.
3. Recognition Bloomed First Across the Atlantic
Despite his distinctly American voice and subject matter, Frost initially found it difficult to gain traction with publishers in the United States. After facing numerous rejections while working odd jobs, including farming and teaching, he made the bold decision to move his family to England in 1912. This gamble paid off when his first book of poetry, A Boy’s Will, was published there in 1913, quickly followed by North of Boston in 1914, establishing his reputation before he returned to America.
4. His Life Was Marked by Deep Personal Tragedy
Behind the public success and acclaim, Frost’s personal life was fraught with sorrow. He experienced immense loss throughout his years. His father died of tuberculosis when Frost was just eleven. His mother succumbed to cancer at a young age. His younger sister was institutionalized and died in a mental hospital. His wife, Elinor, who supported him through his early struggles, battled cancer before dying of heart failure. Devastatingly, Frost also outlived four of their six children.
5. His Gravestone Bears a Line From His Own Verse
Robert Frost’s final resting place in Bennington, Vermont, features an epitaph drawn directly from his work. The last two lines of his poem “The Lesson for Today” (published in 1942 in the collection A Witness Tree) are inscribed on his gravestone: “I would have written of me on my stone: / I had a lover’s quarrel with the world.” This poignant phrase offers a final poetic reflection on his complex relationship with life and the world around him, encapsulating a lifetime of observation and narrative poetry reflecting on the human condition.