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Robert Frost: The American Voice

Explore the life and works of poet Robert Frost to understand his impact on American literature, politics, and public life.

1,167 enrolled on this course

A painting of an open window looking out onto an empty field
  • Duration

    4 weeks
  • Weekly study

    3 hours
  • 100% online

    How it works
  • Digital upgrade

    Free

Tour the world of a great American poet with his biographer

Robert Frost is one of the most celebrated poets of the 20th century. His poems, which reflect on life, nature, and the human condition, feature on liberal arts syllabuses all around the world.

On this four-week course, you’ll embark on a journey through Frost’s vivid world and works. Your guide on this tour is none other than the award-winning poet, novelist, and Frost biographer, Dr Jay Parini.

Discover the New England landscape where Frost lived and wrote

Frost is best known for poems depicting the landscapes of rural New England, where he lived for much of his life. You’ll start this course by reading some of his classic poems, like ‘The Road Not Taken’ and ‘Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening’, together with several lesser known gems.

As you read Frost’s descriptions of his beloved New England, you’ll explore the scenes described in stunning videos shot on location.

Practise literary analysis and hone your close reading skills

Frost was first and foremost a lyric poet. In Weeks 1 and 2 of the course, you’ll examine the form and features of lyric poetry, and how they shape Frost’s own poetic style.

Through close readings of several of his best loved poems, you’ll hone your skills in literary analysis. You’ll gain a deeper appreciation of the art of poetry, and the vocabulary you need to understand, enjoy, and talk about poems.

Understand Frost’s contribution to American public life

Frost’s legacy expands far beyond poetry or literature. You’ll learn about Frost’s friendship with John F. Kennedy, and the role he played in public life during the Cold War. You’ll witness his wider influence on politics in documentary footage and primary sources from key moments in history.

By the end of the course, you’ll understand what makes Robert Frost a distinctly American poetic voice.

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Syllabus

  • Week 1

    The Granite Voice of American Poetry: Frost and New England

    • photograph of Jay Parini

      Introduction to the Course

      A warm welcome to the course and an introduction to Ralston College and to your instructor.

    • Photo of Robert Frost

      Introducing Robert Frost

      Discover how Frost's poetry was shaped by his geographic and historical environments.

    • black and white photo of a stone wall

      Poetic Form in Frost

      Learn the basics of poetic meter and form in English language verse and investigate their role in Frost's poetry.

    • Painting of a white fence in a green field

      Frost and the Seasons of New England

      Read and discuss four poems by Frost that reflect the seasons of New England.

  • Week 2

    The Work of Poetry

    • Frost’s Farms

      Encounter Frost's farming life and explore his four farms.

    • Painting of a farmhouse and fields in mist

      Farming & Poetry

      Read and discuss three poems by Frost that illustrate the relationship between the work of poetry and that of farming.

  • Week 3

    The People of Robert Frost

    • A painting of a young man's face

      The Poetry of Youth

      Investigate Frost's depiction of the pleasures and tragedies of youth.

    • A sketch of an older man's face

      The Poetry of Old Age

      Explore Frost's treatment of old age and isolation in the poem "An Old Man's Winter Night."

    • A sketch of man lying in a bed

      Characters in Frost—Monologues and Dialogues

      Examine the role of characterization in two of Frost's dramatic poems.

  • Week 4

    An Artist and an American: Frost's Public Voice

    • A photograph of men in a soup kitchen during the Great Depression.

      Frost's America, America's Frost

      Explore Frost's engagement with American history, identity, and politics.

    • A sketch of a young man cupping his hands to his mouth

      Frost and Community

      Explore Frost's understanding of the need, shape, and value of human community.

    • Photograph of Robert Frost, Jackie Kennedy, John F. Kennedy and others

      Conclusion: America's Poet

      A reflection on Frost's enduring place in American public life and the American imagination.

When would you like to start?

Start straight away and join a global classroom of learners. If the course hasn’t started yet you’ll see the future date listed below.

  • Available now

Learning on this course

On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.

What will you achieve?

By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...

  • Interpret Frost’s poetry through engagement with its language, structure, and themes
  • Identify Frost's use of particular poetic devices, metrical structures, and poetic forms
  • Investigate connections between Frost's poetry and his life, his historical period, and his geographic context
  • Explain the significance of Robert Frost to American public life
  • Reflect on the communal value of poetry and one what it means to read poetry in a communal setting

Who is the course for?

This course is designed for anyone interested in American literature, poetry, and culture in the broadest sense.

No prior knowledge of Frost or his poetry is required for this course.

Who will you learn with?

Jay  Parini

Jay Parini is the D. E. Axinn Professor of English and Creative Writing at Middlebury College. He is a poet and scholar of American literature, and a best-selling novelist as well.

Who developed the course?

Ralston College logo, with Latin text “sermo liber vita ipsa”

Ralston College

Ralston College is a new institution of higher education committed to an educational vision that enables students to lead lives of self-knowledge, freedom, and substance.

What's included?

Ralston College are offering everyone who joins this course a free digital upgrade, so that you can experience the full benefits of studying online for free. This means that you get:

  • Unlimited access to this course
  • Includes any articles, videos, peer reviews and quizzes
  • A PDF Certificate of Achievement to prove your success when you’re eligible
  • Learning on FutureLearn

    Your learning, your rules

    • Courses are split into weeks, activities, and steps to help you keep track of your learning
    • Learn through a mix of bite-sized videos, long- and short-form articles, audio, and practical activities
    • Stay motivated by using the Progress page to keep track of your step completion and assessment scores

    Join a global classroom

    • Experience the power of social learning, and get inspired by an international network of learners
    • Share ideas with your peers and course educators on every step of the course
    • Join the conversation by reading, @ing, liking, bookmarking, and replying to comments from others

    Map your progress

    • As you work through the course, use notifications and the Progress page to guide your learning
    • Whenever you’re ready, mark each step as complete, you’re in control
    • Complete 90% of course steps and all of the assessments to earn your certificate

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