Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Design" is a poem by Robert Frost that explores the themes of nature, the human condition, and the question of whether life has any inherent meaning or purpose. The poem was first published in 1936.

The poem is written in iambic pentameter. The poem's language and imagery evoke a sense of mystery and ambiguity, as the speaker reflects on the scene of a spider and a moth trapped in a flower.

The poem begins by describing the scene of the spider and the moth, which are trapped in a white flower. The speaker notes that the scene appears to have been created with a sense of intention, as if someone or something had deliberately arranged it.

Throughout the poem, the speaker reflects on the way that the scene represents the larger question of whether life has any inherent meaning or purpose. The speaker questions whether the spider and the moth were simply victims of chance, or if their deaths were part of some larger design.

The poem's emotional climax comes in the final lines, when the speaker reflects on the way that the scene represents the larger question of whether life has any inherent meaning or purpose. The poem ends with the iconic lines, "What but design of darkness to appall?-- / If design govern in a thing so small."

Overall, "Design" is a powerful and thought-provoking poem that explores the themes of nature, the human condition, and the question of whether life has any inherent meaning or purpose. The poem suggests that even the smallest and seemingly insignificant events in life can raise larger questions about the nature of existence and the purpose of human life.

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