Symbolism, "The Silken Tent"

          Robert Frost’s poem, “The Silken Tent”, represents symbolism throughout.  At first the reader might think that Frost is writing about a tent in the summer breeze, but as you reread the poem, many times, you can see it is much more because of the symbolism.  For example we, the reader, know from the very first line that Frost is talking about a woman, “She”. He compares her to a silken tent. He uses “tent” to symbolize a woman because of her softness yet sturdiness, maybe someone who shields him. She is not too sturdy because a woman is gentle, “so that in guys it gently sways at ease” (4).  The woman he describes, he seems to admire a great deal, maybe he is in love with her.  She is soft and gentle but can stand up for herself, “And its supporting central cedar pole” (5).  Here Frost uses the symbol “cedar pole” to describe the strength that this woman has, to probably stand up for herself and supporting others. Frost even goes further to state, “That is its pinnacle to heavenward, and signifies the sureness of the soul”(6-7). He probably feels that this woman can do no wrong that she will go to heaven after she dies. She doesn’t answer to anyone, “But strictly held by none, is loosely bound” (9).  Even though she does not answer to anyone, Frost is saying she is bound slightly by his thoughts and his love for her.  He finally makes this “bondage”, his love, known on one summer day.

          Frost’s use of symbolism in this poem enables the reader to really picture what he is trying to say, using strong symbols of a person he admires very much.  Symbolism makes a poem more interesting.  If symbolism wasn’t used the poem would be a short paragraph describing the subject.  It makes the poem more like a puzzle that you need to figure out.


“In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life: it goes on.”
― Robert Frost