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MAPLE, by             Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography

Robert Frost's poem "Maple" explores the significance of names, the quest for personal identity, and the intricate ways in which the past shapes the present. Through the story of a girl named Maple, Frost delves into themes of memory, legacy, and the search for meaning.

The poem opens with Maple's teacher mistakenly calling her Mabel, which prompts Maple to inquire about her true name. Her father reassures her that her name is indeed Maple, named after a maple tree by her late mother. This moment marks the beginning of Maple's awareness and curiosity about her name and its significance.

Maple's father recounts the touching story of her naming: "Your mother named you. You and she just saw / Each other in passing in the room upstairs, / One coming this way into life, and one / Going the other out of life." This poignant image of life and death intersecting establishes a deep, almost mystical connection between Maple and her mother. The father's words suggest that the name was a parting gift from the mother, imbued with a significance that Maple will have to discover on her own.

As a child, Maple's immediate concern is to confront her teacher, but as she grows older, the significance of her name begins to resurface. The father's explanation about the maple tree and the mother's intention leaves a lasting impression, even though the exact meaning remains elusive. The father's reflection on the dangers of planting such profound ideas in a child's mind highlights the complexity of parenting and the unintended consequences of words.

Years later, Maple's quest for self-understanding continues. She reflects on the unique quality of her name compared to others: "What was it about the name? She saw its strangeness / Lay in its having meaning." Unlike common names, Maple's name carries a weight of significance that she feels compelled to understand. This realization leads her to ponder the connection between her name and her identity, and the ways in which names can shape perceptions and destinies.

Maple's search for meaning takes her to her mother's childhood home and the Bible with the pressed maple leaf, which she interprets as a message from her mother. This moment illustrates Maple's deep longing for connection and understanding. However, the lost place in the Bible symbolizes the elusive nature of meaning and memory.

As an adult, Maple finds herself in a strange place, working in a city and encountering someone who remarks on her resemblance to a tree. This encounter rekindles her contemplation about her name and its significance. The man's observation, despite not knowing her true name, hints at an intuitive understanding of her inner mystery, which leads to their marriage.

The couple's pilgrimage to Maple's father's house to find a special tree ends in disappointment, but their mutual inspiration and shared search bind them together. They resign themselves to the mystery of the name and its meaning, choosing to focus on their relationship and the symbolic connection they find in the autumn maples.

In the end, Maple's name, despite its unclear meaning, has a profound impact on her life. Frost reflects on the power of names and their potential to shape destinies: "A name with meaning could bring up a child, / Taking the child out of the parents' hands." The poem suggests that names carry a weight of expectation and significance that can influence a person's identity and choices.

Frost's "Maple" is a rich exploration of the intersection of naming, identity, and legacy. Through Maple's journey, the poem delves into the complexities of memory, the search for meaning, and the ways in which our past shapes our present. The poem's narrative structure and vivid imagery create a deeply moving and thought-provoking meditation on the power of names and the enduring quest for self-understanding.


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