Michael Fulmer
Mrs. Pate
AP English Literature Composition
27 September 2015
PRA#3: “Nothing Gold Can Stay”
The poem “Nothing Gold Can Stay” by Robert Frost uses natural metaphors and simplistic diction to convey the theme that nothing good in the world lasts. Frost employs natural metaphors to compare nature and life itself. The speaker also uses simplistic diction to express the melancholy tone of the poem. Through these devices the theme and tone are thoroughly communicated to the reader.
Frost uses many metaphors to compare nature and life. The comparisons between nature and life show that everything good in life doesn’t last. Just like the beauty in nature fades away. In line 1, the speaker says “Nature’s first green is gold,” stating that in the beginning of life things are happy and joyful. The speaker goes on to state that “leaf subsides to leaf” in line 5, meaning that in the end joyful things begin to fade away. By comparing the fading of leaves over time the speaker conveys life fading over time.
Diction is used to convey the melancholy tone of the poem. The diction used is very simplistic and adds to the theme of the poem by communicating the tone. In line 7, the speaker says “dawn goes down to day,” which provides an image of sunrise fading to an ordinary day and losing the magic of dawn. The speaker states “Eden sank in grief’ in line 6, to show that even paradise fades away. Through the diction used Frost conveys a melancholy tone and effectively states the theme.
Frost uses metaphors and diction to establish the theme and tone of the poem. The metaphors are used to convey the theme that all happy things in life fade away, and diction is used to state the melancholy tone. Through these devices the theme and tone are effectively conveyed.
Nothing Gold Can Stay
Robert Frost
Nature’s first green is gold,
Her hardest hue to hold.
Her early leaf’s a flower;
But only so an hour.
Then...