Discuss the role of Nature in Robert Frost`s poetry. How does it differ from previous ideas in Naturalism and why does it differ?

One of the major tenets of naturalism in American literature is the idea that nature or chance constantly spread themselves and impose their dominance upon man (Pizer , 11 . This idea is supported by other traits of naturalism such as its tendency to apply scientific or clinical methods to its study of nature (Walcutt , 21 . of the naturalist era , such as Jack London and Emile Zola , tend toward a fatalistic view of the elements , generally presenting their characters as being at the mercy of these forces . Robert Frost , though a poet who lived within

the Modernist era , can still be seen as a poet whose poems tend toward the naturalist tradition . His poetry is largely dedicated to call attention to the immensity of the forces in nature . However , the methods he uses to create his poetry and the human beings represented in his poems do differ both from those represented in the tenets of naturalism , as well as from those methods often employed by other poets and of the Naturalist period

Frost 's tendency to deal with subjects that are in contact with the vastness of the elements can be seen in his poem Fire and Ice ' This poem mingles the natural phenomena with ideas of the supernatural in a truly naturalistic manner . It speaks of the end of the world and disasters that are brought on by the two extreme elements . He speaks of fire as being able to herald the cessation of all life through its destructive powers , and it likewise speaks of ice as having the power to do the same . However , unlike most naturalistic and poets studied , he imbues his human subject , the persona I , with emotions that appear greater than the element to which it is compared . Frost writes From what I 've tasted of desire , I hold with those who favor fire (Lines 3-4 . Here he compares human desire with fire , and gauges the ability of fire as a destructive element based on the magnitude of the capacity for destruction in man 's own fiery desire . Likewise , he writes of ice : I think I know enough of hate to say that for destruction ice is also great (Lines 6-7 . The human emotion (hate ) is again elevated in its ability to destroy with a magnitude as great as the elements Frost therefore , in contrast with naturalistic tendencies , elevates the human abilities as highly as (or even higher than ) the elements found in nature

Such an idea as presented above is in contrast to naturalism , as that movement is usually found to highlight the helplessness of man and his miniscule aspect in the face of these elements (Pizer , 11 Walcutt , 21 In fact , on giving the poem a second look , one becomes skeptical of Frosts intention to associate the elements with the supernatural . He appears to grant these awesome destructive abilities to the elements only after reviewing the ability of human beings ' emotions to accomplish a similar feat . This leads to the idea that...