A Stylistic and Feminist Analysis of Robert Frost’s "The Silken Tent"

Abstract

This research paper presents a detailed stylistic and feminist analysis of Robert Frost’s poem “The Silken Tent.” The poem is often praised for its beauty, imagery, and metaphor, but this study explores how Frost’s poetic techniques express complex themes such as feminine identity, emotional balance, freedom, and societal expectations. The study uses Leech and Short’s (1981) stylistic framework to examine lexical choices, syntax, phonology, and figurative language. It also draws on feminist literary theory, including ideas from Simone de Beauvoir and Elaine Showalter, to highlight how Frost’s metaphor reflects the modern woman’s dual life graceful yet tied by invisible emotional and social obligations.

The results show that Frost’s use of soft sounds, smooth syntax, and an extended metaphor (the tent) builds an image of a woman who is not just delicate, but also deeply grounded and emotionally strong. The poem reflects the struggle between outward freedom and inward responsibility, a reality that many 21st-century women still face. The feminist perspective reimagines the “ties” in the poem as symbols of emotional labor, social roles, and internal restraint. This study is significant because it offers a new way of reading a classic poem, showing how language and theme work together. It also encourages readers to view poetry as a reflection of changing social ideas, especially about gender and identity.

Keywords: Robert Frost, The Silken Tent, stylistics, feminist criticism, metaphor, feminine identity , poetic analysis