Even today, New England is one of the most beautiful parts of the United States, and Robert Frost called it home. Being a farmer further connected him to the land, which created a feeling in him of loyalty and devotion to the area, one that is reflected in the bulk of his poetry. In many ways, New England shaped and defined Frost's voice as a poet. Even when the area isn't explicitly pointed out, its presence in Frost's mind as he wrote is still felt. In "Mowing" we aren't given many details, but the details that are there speak of New England.
Questions About Visions of New England
- How would Frost's voice in the poem have changed had he been more of a city slicker?
- Do you think Frost's ideas about work would have been any different if the speaker were mowing a lawn in the suburbs instead of a New England field? Why or why not?
- Do you have to be familiar with manual labor to appreciate this poem, or does it have a more inclusive, everyman kind of feeling to it? Why do you think so?
Chew on This
Having New England as the backdrop of his poetry gave Frost's work a gentler, more positive outlook than it would have had if he were from the Midwest, where farmers were experiencing the Dust Bowl during his lifetime.
Seeing Frost's deep connection to New England and its farmland as his muse complicates the claims he makes about poetry not coming from supernatural sources in the poem.