1. Creates a sense of naturalness and realism: Blank verse, mirroring the rhythms of everyday speech, makes Frost's poems feel more natural and grounded in reality. This is particularly effective in poems dealing with rural life, like "Mending Wall" and "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening."
2. Allows for flexibility and variation: Unlike rhymed forms, blank verse doesn't constrain the poet to specific rhyme schemes. This freedom allows for greater flexibility in word choice and sentence structure, allowing Frost to express complex ideas and emotions with nuance.
3. Emphasizes the content: The lack of rhyme draws attention to the meaning and imagery of the poems. The reader's focus is on the content itself, rather than being distracted by the rhythmic patterns of rhyme. This allows for deeper engagement with the poems' themes and messages.
4. Creates a sense of intimacy and direct address: Blank verse can feel conversational and intimate, creating a sense of direct communication between the speaker and the reader. This is particularly noticeable in Frost's more introspective poems, where the reader feels like they are privy to the speaker's thoughts and feelings.
5. Enhances the dramatic effect: Blank verse can be used to build suspense and create a sense of drama. The regular rhythm and meter can be manipulated to emphasize certain words or phrases, creating a more dramatic effect.
6. Evokes a sense of classical tradition: While not strictly a classical form, blank verse has its roots in Shakespeare and other Renaissance writers. Using blank verse allows Frost to tap into this tradition, adding a layer of sophistication and gravitas to his work.
Overall, Robert Frost's use of blank verse was a deliberate and strategic choice, allowing him to achieve a unique style that was both accessible and powerful. It enabled him to create poems that were both realistic and poetic, conversational and profound.