Literary Analysis of A Poem Soldier

We are kept on this earth to make a difference, but we do not know what for. The poem “A Soldier” by Robert Frost tells the story of a fallen soldier. A soldier has fallen on the battle field. We do not know why the soldier fell; only that fallen soldier knew why. In this poem Frost uses metaphor and personification to compare a soldier to a lance.

First, Frost uses personification to compare a soldier to a lance. By doing this you do not know if the soldier is the lance or if he comes in to the story later.

It also means that the soldier has fallen in battle, but we do not know why. In the poem it says “He is that fallen lance that lies as hurled” (“A Soldier” 1). Therefore, Frost uses personification to compare a soldier to a lance.

Second, Frost uses simile to compare our knowledge of what happened to just being men. It is so because sometimes we look too closely at something, and we miss the big picture.

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Or, we look at the big picture and miss the little things. Like, we see the soldier’s death as insignificant. We only look at the big picture, and what someone else did. For example “If we who sight along it round the world, see nothing worthy to have been its mark, it is because like men we look to near, forgetting that as fitted to the sphere” (“A Soldier” 3-6). Although we sometimes don’t understand why someone’s life was significant, we always have honored the brave men that have fallen for our country.

Finally, Frost uses personification to give human qualities to a missile. He does this by explaining what the missiles do. They fall, and rip the grass. Just like when a soldier is shot; they fall and rip the grass. In the poem it says “They make us cringe for metal-point on stone” (“A Soldier” 11). By saying this Frost has compared a soldier to a missile because when a missile makes impact on something it makes us cringe. When a soldier falls, it makes us cringe at the horror of it. Therefore, Frost used personification to compare a soldier to a missile.

In conclusion Frost uses personification and simile to compare a soldier to a fallen lance and a missile. He also compares our carelessness to just being men. We are kept on this earth to make a difference, but we do not know what for. I believe that Frost is urging you to find your calling in the world. A soldier has fallen on the battle field. We do not know why the soldier fell; only that fallen soldier knew why. This is similar to the theme, we are on this planet for a reason, and it is up to us to find out why that is. Therefore, Frost unites personification and simile to help urge us find out our reason to be on this planet.