The Silken Tent
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The Silken Tent
By: Robert Frost
Robert Frosts sonnet “The Silken Tent” sets up an analogy between a girl and a silken tent. Before I start to analyze the poem, I will give a brief explanation of what a sonnet is. In the book Literature and Its Writers it gives a great definition on page 750 it explains that a sonnet is short- generally fourteen lines long – and is written in a regular rhyme sequence, it is one of the richest and most durable forms of lyric poetry. The difference between a sonnet and other lyrics of poetry is the way the poet works with its theme.
The Silken Tent
She is as in a field a silken tent A
At midday when a sunny summer breeze B
Has dried the dew and all its ropes relent, A
So that in guys it gently sways at ease, B
And its supporting central cedar pole, C
That is its pinnacle to heavenward D
And signifies the sureness of the soul, C
Seems to owe naught to any single cord, D
But strictly held by none, is loosely bound E
By countless silken ties of love and thought F
To everything on earth the compass round, E
And only by ones going slightly taut F
In the capriciousness of summer air G
Is of the slightest bondage made aware. G
Robert Frost is comparing a silken tent to a girl. He tries to show you that this girl is worry and care free in line 4 he says ” gently sways at ease” , line 7 “sureness of the soul” and in line 9 “strictly held by none, is loosely bound”. The central cedar pole represents the girl and the silken tent represents her dress which is made of a very rich, soft, smooth fabric- silk. The ropes function to attach the tent to the ground as a means of keeping it up. Metaphorically, the ropes of this girls life would be her connection