This course will examine a variety of Robert Frost’s poems that are set in summer. Because Osher doesn’t offer courses in the summer, we will look at them as summer approaches.

Each class will examine a handful of poems; classes will be largely discussion. In preparation for class, participants should read each poem with care—and repeatedly—and heavily annotate their copy of the poem (or a photocopy of it), and bring to class questions, parts of the poem, or topics that they want to discuss. They are strongly encouraged to read a biography of Frost for background, ideally beforehand or early in the course. Jay Parini’s Robert Frost, A Life is recommended.

Frost is well-known in part because he is one of America’s greatest poets, and at the same time, many of his poems are accessible at some level. However, his poems are rarely straightforward: like the man, his poetry is more complicated and more full of contradictions and ambiguity than is often appreciated. Our discussions will bring to light some of the themes that run through Frost’s work, and discussion will be enriched by some biographical knowledge.

People who don’t know Frost’s work or who aren’t particularly well-versed with poetry in general are welcome, as are people who are life-long lovers of poetry and Frost.