LINE NUMBER

& ANALYSIS & INTERPRETATION

Original poetry lines
1. The poet is an APPLE-PICKER.
He has an old fashioned ladder which he uses to pick the apples.
My long two-pointed
ladder's sticking
through a tree

Theme
Theme CYCLE OF LIFE AND DEATH

Symbol LADDER
BIBLICAL IMAGERY
Figure of
ALLUSION
speech
speech
The ladder stands straight in the direction of heaven.
The poem is a wonderful metaphor that can be interpreted on different
levels. NOTE that ladder was pointed not at the "sky" but "toward
heaven.""Heaven" may not be the destination awaiting anyone who
climbs ladders, but it may be the part of poet’s “consciousness of
destinations”.
The ladder could be a metaphor of various objects!

2.
Toward heaven still,
Theme
Theme CYCLE OF LIFE AND DEATH

Symbol LADDER
BIBLICAL IMAGERY
Figure of
ALLUSION
speech
speech

The poet has been plucking apples all day, but he has not yet plucked all
the apples. He still has another barrel to fill the apples with.
UNFINISHED TASKS
Theme
Theme UNFULFILLED DESIRES, GREEDINESS
3.
And there's a barrel
Symbols BARREL
that I didn't fill
1 Figure
Figure of
of
speech

The poet states that he still has more barrels to fill with the apples.
 NOTE THAT the poet has used a casual phrase as "there may be two or
three", which gives reader a feel of the speaker's indifference toward
perfection.
UNFINISHED TASKS
Theme UNFULFILLED DESIRES, GREEDINESS
Beside it, and there
may be two or three Symbols
Symbols APPLES

Figure
Figure of
of
speech
speech

The poet has been plucking apples all day, but he has not yet plucked all
the apples.
DISAPPOINTMENT
Theme
Theme INACTION
5.
Apples I didn't pick Symbols
Symbols APPLES
upon some bough.
Figure
Figure of
of
speech
speech

But he is too tired to continue the process of APPLE PICKING.

In spite of being “done with apple-picking” yet, he feels some obligation
to fill “a barrel” that he did not. So, his apple-picking, metaphorically
poetry writing, looks like an obligation and a great responsibility.
DISAPPOINTMENT
6. Theme
Theme INACTION
But I am done with
apple-picking now. Symbols
Symbols APPLES

Figure
Figure of
of
speech
speech

It is winter night, the poet is feeling sleepy.

Winter is approaching fast, and it is nighttime. This means that the poet
has spent the entire day picking apples, and now the work is finished. He
compares sleep in the winter air to an "ESSENCE", and realizes that this
"ESSENCE" is smelling like an apple, telling us again about the impact
of hard work on the poet.
The association of night with "essence of winter sleep" gives "night" a
metaphoric context and so expands its meaning by making it improbable.
7. The speaker was "well" upon his way to sleep.
Essence of winter sleep
is on the night Theme
Theme CYCLE OF LIFE AND DEATH

Symbols
Symbols SLEEP

Figure
Figure of
of
speech
2 speech

The speaker is drowning in the scent of apples.

8.
This line establishes a parallel between “drowsiness” and the “essence of
 by an uncommitted colon. The "essence," is more directly associated
with "the scent of apples" than with the speaker's sleep.
In this line, Frost is submerged with drowsy numbness, yet enters the
visionary state necessary to artistic creation.

Theme
Theme CYCLE OF LIFE AND DEATH
am drowsing off.
Symbols
Symbols SLEEP

Figure
Figure of
of
speech
speech

The poet feels kind of “strangeness” in his “sight”.

It is as if he woke before work into a kind of reality that had all the
strangeness of dream, and he looks to sleep after work almost in the hope
of dispelling the dream.
9. Theme
Theme CYCLE OF LIFE AND DEATH
I cannot rub the
strangeness from my
Symbols
Symbols
sight
SLEEP
SLEEP IN THE MORNING)
Figure
Figure of
of METAPHOR (ONE CANNOT RUB
speech
speech

The poet attributes the “strangeness” or the “strangeness' of his sight” to

the incident that occurred a day before.

10. Theme
Theme ANXIETY
I got from looking FASHIONED WORD FOR MIRROR)
through a pane of glass Symbols GLASS (REMEMBER THAT GLASS IS AN OLD

Figure of METAPHOR
speech
speech

The poet found a thin sheet of glass (ice sheet) on his water tank (water
container) when he went to drink water in the morning. As the apple-
picker drowses off, narrative of fact about the ice skimmed from the
trough gets mixed with dream, and the time references become confused.
11. Theme
Theme ANXIETY
I skimmed this
morning from the
drinking trough Symbols SHEET OF ICE
CONSONANCE [/m/]
Figure of
METAPHOR (ICE ≡ GLASS)
speech
speech

3
12.
The poet put out a sheet of ice out of water, with his hands, and saw on
the cold grass.
And held against the This grass could be real grass, "hoary" in the sense that it is coated white
world of hoary grass. with morning frost; or it could be other-worldly grass, "hoary" in the
 Milton. A reader in no way decide which is which.
CREATIVITY AND DISSATISFACTION
Theme
Theme CYCLE OF LIFE AND DEATH

Symbols
Symbols HOARY GRASS

Figure
Figure of
of
speech
speech

When the snow began to melt in the poet's hand, he dropped the ice
sheet to the ground and let it break. But this did not help in driving the
strangeness out of his vision, due to which he was seeing the world in a
different way.
The glassy piece of ice - which distorts, transforms and makes the
familiar seem strange.
13. CREATIVITY AND DISSATISFACTION
It melted, and I let it Theme
Theme CYCLE OF LIFE AND DEATH
fall and break.
Symbols
Symbols
BIBLICAL IMAGERY (FALL OF ADAM AND EVE)
Figure
Figure of
of ALLUSION
speech
speech

The poet says that he was probably all right.

CREATIVITY AND DISSATISFACTION
Theme
Theme CYCLE OF LIFE AND DEATH

14. Symbols
Symbols
But I was well
Figure
Figure of
of
speech
speech

Although the poet dropped a sheet of ice in real life, the poet portrays
the mental form before sleeping.
Hint: Many of us, forget to collect the thoughts, situations and actions
of the day, before sleeping.

15. DISAPPOINTMENT
Theme
Theme
Upon my way to sleep CYCLE OF LIFE AND DEATH
before it fell,
Symbols SLEEP

Figure of
speech
speech

16. The poet tells

And I could tell
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 Theme
Theme

Symbols
Symbols SLEEP

Figure
Figure of
of
speech
speech

The poet is tired now and ready to sleep,

And tells about the color of his dreams.
"What form my dreaming was about to take." is as if the poet woke
before work into a kind of reality that had all the strangeness of dream,
and he looks to sleep after work almost in the hope of dispelling the
17. dream.
What form my Theme
Theme ANXIETY
dreaming was about to
take. Symbols
Symbols SLEEP

Figure
Figure of
of BIBLICAL IMAGERY (DREAMS)
speech
speech

The poet dreams about apples, picks them up and throws them in a
barrel.
Apples seen in the poet's dream look very different from normal apples.
Apples are "MAGNIFIED", they appear and disappear

18.
Magnified apples
appear and disappear, Theme
Theme CREATIVITY AND DISSATISFACTION

Symbols APPLES
CONSONANCE [/pp/]
Figure of
BIBLICAL IMAGERY (DREAMS)
speech
speech

Two OPPOSITE ENDS of APPLES are visible, one is STEM END and
the another is BLOSSOM END.
CREATIVITY AND DISSATISFACTION
Theme
Theme CYCLE OF LIFE AND DEATH
19.
Stem end and blossom Symbols
end,
BIBLICAL IMAGERY (DREAMS)
Figure of
DIACOPE, ASSONANCE [/e/]
speech
speech
5
20. The poet can clearly see colorful spots (red-brown spots, brown spots)
on the apple.
And every fleck of
russet showing clear.
 CREATIVITY AND DISSATISFACTION
Theme
Theme CYCLE OF LIFE AND DEATH

Symbols
Symbols APPLES
BIBLICAL IMAGERY (DREAMS)
Figure
Figure of
of HYPERBOLE
speech
speech

The poet can feel how his feet ache by standing on a ladder all day.

Theme
Theme PAIN
21.
My instep arch not Symbols
Symbols LADDER
only keeps the ache, ALLUSION
Figure
Figure of
of DIACOPE WITH LINE 23
speech
speech

And poet can also feel the pressure of standing on the ladder, at his feet.

Theme
Theme PAIN
22.
It keeps the pressure of Symbols
Symbols LADDER
a ladder-round. ALLUSION
Figure
Figure of
of DIACOPE WITH LINE 22
speech
speech

Not only does he feel himself standing on the ladder, but he can also
feel the ladder swaying against the branches of the tree.

Theme
Theme ANXIETY
23.
I feel the ladder sway Symbols
Symbols LADDER
as the boughs bend.
ALLUSION
Figure
Figure of
of DIACOPE WITH LINE 22
speech
speech

The poet is almost living the dream.

He can hear the sound of the apples filling the box

Theme
Theme CREATIVITY
24.
And I keep hearing Symbols
Symbols
from the cellar bin
Figure
Figure of
of
speech
speech

25. The poet hears the thundering sound of falling apples.

6
The rumbling sound
 Theme
Theme ANXIETY

Symbols
Symbols

Figure
Figure of
of
speech
speech

Apples will be sorted after filling them in the box.

Apples are being constantly filled in the box.

Theme
Theme CREATIVITY
26.
Of load on load of Symbols
Symbols APPLES
apples coming in.
DIACOPE
Figure
Figure of
of HYPERBOLE
speech
speech

The poet is tired of this work, which he loved in the past.

Theme
Theme CREATIVITY AND DISSATISFACTION
27.
For I have had too Symbols
Symbols
much
Figure
Figure of
of
speech
speech

Poet is tired of APPLE-PICKING

CREATIVITY AND DISSATISFACTION
Theme
Theme CYCLE OF LIFE AND DEATH
28.
Of apple-picking: I am Symbols
Symbols APPLES
overtired
Figure
Figure of
of ALLITERATION: “O,” “a,” “a,” “o”
speech
speech

The poet has plucked countless apples over the years, and remembers
how he always looked forward to the season of APPLE-PICKING.
However, now those feelings have changed. He is no longer excited
about the season of APPLE-PICKING.
CREATIVITY AND DISSATISFACTION
29. Theme
Theme INDECISION
Of the great harvest I
myself desired. Symbols
Symbols APPLES

Figure
Figure of
of ALLUSION
speech
speech
7
The poet describes his work as APPLE-PICKER.
30.
He talks about 'ten thousand' fruits, (an exaggeration for a very large
There were ten quantity of apples) that had to be carefully stuffed into the barrel.
 CREATIVITY AND DISSATISFACTION
Theme
Theme INDECISION

thousand thousand fruit Symbols

Symbols APPLES
to touch, ALLUSION, CONSONANCE [/t/,/th/]
Figure
Figure of
of HYPERBOLE, EPIZEUXIS
speech
speech

The poet states that utmost care is required while picking apples.
CREATIVITY AND DISSATISFACTION
Theme
Theme CYCLE OF LIFE AND DEATH
31. FALLEN APPLES (SIN AND EARTHLY CORRUPTION)
Cherish in hand, lift Symbols
Symbols APPLES
down, and not let fall.
Figure
Figure of
of ALLUSION
speech
speech

All the apples

CREATIVITY AND DISSATISFACTION
Theme
Theme CYCLE OF LIFE AND DEATH

32.
FALLEN APPLES (MISSED OPPURTUNITIES)
Symbols
Symbols FALLEN APPLES (SIN AND EARTHLY CORRUPTION)
For all
Figure
Figure of
of ALLUSION
speech
speech

All those APPLE that fall down, and touch the ground, and remain
undetermined,
CREATIVITY AND DISSATISFACTION
Theme
Theme CYCLE OF LIFE AND DEATH
33. FALLEN APPLES (MISSED OPPURTUNITIES)
That struck the earth, Symbols
Symbols FALLEN APPLES (SIN AND EARTHLY CORRUPTION)

Figure
Figure of
of ALLUSION
speech
speech

An APPLE has just fallen on the ground &even if, there are no
scratches on it. It has not nicked against the pointed stump of the tree.
CREATIVITY AND DISSATISFACTION
Theme
Theme
34. CYCLE OF LIFE AND DEATH
No matter if not FALLEN APPLES (MISSED OPPURTUNITIES)
bruised or spiked with Symbols
Symbols FALLEN APPLES (SIN AND EARTHLY CORRUPTION)

stubble,
Figure
Figure of
of ALLUSION
speech
speech

35. Even an unscratched apple will be thrown into the cider, only just
8
Went surely to the because it has fallen on the ground.
cider-apple heap
 CREATIVITY AND DISSATISFACTION
Theme
Theme CYCLE OF LIFE AND DEATH
FALLEN APPLES (MISSED OPPURTUNITIES)
Symbols
Symbols FALLEN APPLES (SIN AND EARTHLY CORRUPTION)

Figure
Figure of
of ALLUSION
speech
speech

Apples in a pile of cider were considered useless.

CREATIVITY AND DISSATISFACTION
Theme
Theme CYCLE OF LIFE AND DEATH

36.
FALLEN APPLES (MISSED OPPURTUNITIES)
Symbols
Symbols FALLEN APPLES (SIN AND EARTHLY CORRUPTION)
As of no worth.
Figure
Figure of
of ALLUSION
speech
speech

The poet says that anyone can see what will be the problem in future?
CREATIVITY AND DISSATISFACTION
Theme
Theme CYCLE OF LIFE AND DEATH
37.
One can see what will Symbols
Symbols
trouble
Figure
Figure of
of
speech
speech

Poet is about to fall asleep.

But he is not clear about what kind of sleep he will get
CREATIVITY AND DISSATISFACTION
Theme
Theme CYCLE OF LIFE AND DEATH
38.
This sleep of mine, Symbols
Symbols SLEEP
whatever sleep it is.
Figure
Figure of
of DIACOPE
speech
speech

The poet is clueless about the direction in which he’s going.

CREATIVITY AND DISSATISFACTION
Theme
Theme CYCLE OF LIFE AND DEATH

39. Symbols
Symbols
Were he not gone,
Figure
Figure of
of ANTHROPOMORPHISM
speech
speech

The poet’s sleep will be like the winter sleep of woodchuck. Since it’s
winter season, and woodchuck has already hibernated, the poet cannot
9
40.
even ask woodchuck if he knows what the poet's coming sleep will be
The woodchuck could like?
say whether it's like his The apple picker, turns to another creature at the end of his labor only
in hope of finding a way out of his troubling isolation and fears.
 What are wasted apples for humans who select for beauty and
perfection become food for a hibernating woodchuck or further the
spread of apple seeds.
CREATIVITY AND DISSATISFACTION
Theme
Theme CYCLE OF LIFE AND DEATH

Symbols
Symbols SLEEP
PERSONIFICATION
Figure
Figure of
of ANTHROPOMORPHISM
speech
speech

Will the poet have a very long sleep?

CREATIVITY AND DISSATISFACTION
Theme
Theme CYCLE OF LIFE AND DEATH
41.
Long sleep, as I Symbols
Symbols SLEEP
describe its coming on, DIACOPE WITH LINE 42
Figure
Figure of
of ANTHROPOMORPHISM
speech
speech

Or it will be like a normal 'human' sleep,

Hint: The poet is very tired of life, and needs rest. It also means that the
poet is wondering whether he will survive the next morning or not.
CREATIVITY AND DISSATISFACTION
Theme
Theme
42.
CYCLE OF LIFE AND DEATH

Or just some human

Symbols
Symbols
sleep.
SLEEP
DIACOPE WITH LINE 41
Figure
Figure of
of ANTHROPOMORPHISM
speech
speech

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