Teaching Figurative Language through Poetry of Robert Frost at Graduation Level

Gul Faraz Khan, Syeda Samar Shahid Bokhari

Abstract

The present research study aims at enhancing the intellectual acumen of the students by devising various strategies of teaching poetry. In order to understand poetic text, the students need to delve deep into its meaning by focusing on the poetic language.Teaching poetry is the best tool for the literature students to harness their mind at their full stretch in creating deeper understanding of what they are reading. The researcher has selected Robert Frost for the purpose, as his poems are full of figurative language that if understood well could tune the minds of the students for further explorations into the poetical structures. Not only it would increase their mental level of understanding of this beautiful genre, but they would also learn to look at life through a different angle. Focus was on the two main thematic poetical compositions of Robert Frost: a) Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening, and b) Mending Walls. Both of these poems have underlying thoughts and expressions. Frost's poetry is enjoyable when read thoroughly while concentrating on the poetical diction and the inner meanings. This study through specially designed Research Instrument studies the change of perspective of college students studying English Literature.A sample of 50 students was taken and they were taught poetry of Robert Frost with special attention on the figurative language employed. Their understanding level was gauged through tests and some encouraging factors emerged to make the study a model for all the Teachers of English Literature and Language.