Behind Light Words: Irony in the Early Dramatic Poetry of Robert Frost

Abstract

<p>The purpose of this thesis is to investigate how and why Frost employs irony. The types of irony Frost uses can initially be classified into two categories; "natural" and "artificial" irony. The distinction between these two terns will be elaborated and the various aspects or types of irony encompassed by each tern will be discussed. The reasons for Frost's use of irony will also be examined. The poetry to be studied consists of selected long dramatic poems from three of Frost's early books: North aof Boston (1914), Mountain Interval (1916), and New Hampshire (1923). The observations arising from an examination of these works should sufficiently elucidate frost's uses of irony.</p>