Robert Frost and Bob Dylan

 This blog is written as a task assigned by Prakruti Bhatt.

1)What is the debate surrounding Bob Dylan's achievement of the Nobel Prize in Literature (2016)? Can we consider his works literary and poetic in nature? Discuss.

The debate surrounding Bob Dylan's 2016 Nobel Prize in Literature centers on whether his works, as song lyrics, can be considered literary or poetic in the same way as novels or traditional poetry.

Proponents argue:

Poetic and Literary Qualities: Dylan’s lyrics are rich in metaphor, symbolism, and social commentary, qualities often found in poetry. Songs like "Blowin' in the Wind" are seen as deeply poetic, addressing issues such as civil rights and social justice.

Cultural Impact: Dylan’s influence on music, literature, and social movements (like the civil rights movement) suggests that his work holds intellectual and emotional depth comparable to literary figures.

Expanding Literary Definitions: Dylan’s award reflects a broadening view of literature to include not only traditional written forms like novels and poems but also song lyrics, recognizing their power to communicate complex ideas and emotions.

Critics argue:

Difference Between Songwriting and Literature: Song lyrics, while poetic, are primarily intended to be performed with music, making them part of a different tradition than written texts. The structure of music, melody, and rhythm is integral to their meaning.

Popular Culture vs. High Literature: Critics argue that the Nobel Prize should honor more "highbrow" literature, separate from the world of popular culture. Dylan’s connection to mainstream music complicates his standing as a traditional literary figure.

In conclusion, whether Dylan’s work is literary or poetic depends on how one defines literature. If literature is seen as artistic expression through words, then his songs can certainly be considered literary. However, the blending of music and lyrics creates a unique form that challenges traditional boundaries of what literature is.

2) Compare and contrast Robert Frost and Bob Dylan. How do they differ in their style of writing? What are the similarities in their songs?

Robert Frost and Bob Dylan are both iconic American writers, but they come from different artistic traditions—Frost as a poet and Dylan as a songwriter. While their styles and mediums differ, they share thematic similarities and a focus on storytelling.

Differences in Style

Medium & Form

Robert Frost: Primarily a poet, Frost wrote in traditional verse forms, often using rhyme and meter. His poetry is deeply rooted in New England life and rural settings.

Bob Dylan: As a musician and lyricist, Dylan writes songs that blend folk, blues, and rock. His lyrics, while poetic, are written for musical performance rather than structured poetic form.

Language & Tone

Frost: Uses clear, simple language that carries deep philosophical and emotional weight. His tone often reflects contemplation, nostalgia, and sometimes ambiguity.

Dylan: Uses a mix of poetic and conversational language, often shifting between surrealism, protest, and personal introspection. His lyrics can be cryptic or allegorical.

Themes & Subject Matter

Frost: Focuses on nature, rural life, choices, isolation, and the passage of time. He often explores human struggles metaphorically through landscapes and natural imagery.

Dylan: Addresses social and political issues, love, loss, identity, and rebellion. His lyrics often reflect the counterculture and civil rights movements of the 1960s.

Similarities in Their Works

Storytelling Approach

Both Frost and Dylan use narrative techniques in their writing. Frost’s poems like “The Death of the Hired Man” and “Out, Out—” tell compelling, emotionally charged stories. Dylan’s songs, such as “The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll” and “Hurricane,” also employ vivid storytelling.

Philosophical Depth

Both writers contemplate the human condition. Frost’s “The Road Not Taken” explores the weight of decisions, while Dylan’s “Blowin’ in the Wind” questions the nature of justice and freedom.

Symbolism & Metaphor

Frost’s nature imagery serves as a metaphor for life’s hardships (“Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening”), just as Dylan’s surreal imagery conveys social messages (“A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall”).

American Identity

Both are quintessentially American writers. Frost’s work embodies the quiet resilience of rural America, while Dylan’s music captures the restless spirit of modern America.

Conclusion:

While Robert Frost’s poetry is more structured and rooted in pastoral themes, and Bob Dylan’s lyrics are fluid and often political, both artists use storytelling, symbolism, and philosophy to explore the human experience. They differ in execution but share a deep understanding of life’s complexities.

3) Share some lines of any songs from Movies, Poems, or any type of music which reminds you of the themes of songs by Bob Dylan and poems by Robert Frost. 

Here are some lines from songs, poems, and literature that echo the themes of Bob Dylan’s songs and Robert Frost’s poetry:

1. The Road Not Taken – Robert Frost & "My Way" – Frank Sinatra

Both explore individual choice and its consequences.

Frost (The Road Not Taken):

"Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference."

Frank Sinatra (My Way):

"I’ve lived a life that’s full,

I traveled each and every highway,

And more, much more than this,

I did it my way."

2. A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall – Bob Dylan & Blowin’ in the Wind – Peter, Paul & Mary

Dylan's themes of social justice and existential questioning align with folk protest songs.

Dylan (A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall):

"I saw a newborn baby with wild wolves all around it,

I saw a highway of diamonds with nobody on it,

I saw a black branch with blood that kept drippin’."

Peter, Paul & Mary (Blowin’ in the Wind – Cover of Dylan’s Song):

"Yes, how many years can some people exist

Before they're allowed to be free?"

"The answer, my friend, is blowin’ in the wind."

3. Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening – Robert Frost & Sound of Silence – Simon & Garfunkel

Both capture solitude, reflection, and the quiet yet haunting nature of the world.

Frost (Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening):

"The woods are lovely, dark and deep,

But I have promises to keep,

And miles to go before I sleep."

Simon & Garfunkel (The Sound of Silence):

"Hello darkness, my old friend,

I've come to talk with you again."

4. Masters of War – Bob Dylan & War – Edwin Starr

Both criticize war and its consequences.

Dylan (Masters of War):

"You that never done nothin’

But build to destroy,

You play with my world

Like it’s your little toy."

Edwin Starr (War):

"War, huh, yeah

What is it good for? Absolutely nothing!"

4) Both Dylan and Frost employ storytelling technique to discuss philosophical ideas as well as to provide socio-cultural commentary. Discuss some of their notable works in which this element plays a major role in understanding the text.

Both Bob Dylan and Robert Frost masterfully use storytelling to convey deep philosophical ideas and socio-cultural commentary. Their narratives often explore personal dilemmas, moral conflicts, social injustices, and the human condition. Here are some notable works where this element plays a crucial role:

1. "The Death of the Hired Man" – Robert Frost

Storytelling & Philosophical Ideas

This poem tells the story of a farm couple, Warren and Mary, who discuss the return of Silas, an old farmhand who left them when they needed him most. Silas, now old and broken, returns seeking refuge, but Warren is reluctant to take him back. Through Mary’s compassionate reasoning and Warren’s practicality, Frost explores themes of duty, forgiveness, and what defines "home."

Key Lines:

"Home is the place where, when you have to go there,

They have to take you in."

This poem reflects on moral responsibility and the tension between practical survival and human compassion, a common theme in Frost’s work.

2. "Hurricane" – Bob Dylan

Storytelling & Socio-Cultural Commentary

This song recounts the true story of Rubin "Hurricane" Carter, a Black boxer wrongfully convicted of murder. Dylan’s vivid storytelling highlights racial injustice, corruption in the legal system, and the failure of society to protect the innocent.

Key Lines:

"How can the life of such a man

Be in the palm of some fool’s hand?"

Dylan uses a direct, journalistic style to expose systemic racism, making this song an anthem for social justice.

3. "Out, Out—" – Robert Frost

Storytelling & Philosophical Ideas

This narrative poem tells the tragic story of a young boy who accidentally cuts his hand with a saw and dies. Frost presents the scene in a detached, almost indifferent tone, forcing the reader to confront the fragility of life and society’s cold acceptance of death.

Key Lines:

"And they, since they

Were not the one dead, turned to their affairs."

Frost critiques the way life moves on, even after personal tragedy, reflecting an existentialist view of human suffering.

4. "The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll" – Bob Dylan

Storytelling & Socio-Cultural Commentary

This song tells the true story of Hattie Carroll, a Black servant who was murdered by a wealthy white man, William Zantzinger, who received only a light sentence. Dylan uses the storytelling technique to criticize racial injustice and class disparity.

Key Lines:

"And you who philosophize disgrace

And criticize all fears,

Take the rag away from your face,

Now ain’t the time for your tears."

This song is a powerful commentary on privilege, injustice, and the hypocrisy of the legal system.

5. "The Road Not Taken" – Robert Frost

Storytelling & Philosophical Ideas

Through the metaphor of a traveler choosing between two roads, Frost explores the nature of choice, free will, and the human tendency to reflect on past decisions. The poem suggests that people create meaning from their choices, even if those choices are arbitrary.

Key Lines:

"I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference."

The poem is often interpreted as a call to individuality, but Frost subtly critiques the way we justify our past choices.

6. "A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall" – Bob Dylan

Storytelling & Philosophical Ideas

This song, structured as a question-and-answer dialogue, presents a surreal, apocalyptic vision of the world. Dylan tells the story of a young man who witnesses war, suffering, and destruction while searching for meaning.

Key Lines:

"I saw a newborn baby with wild wolves all around it,

I saw a highway of diamonds with nobody on it."

Dylan’s lyrics, filled with cryptic yet powerful imagery, reflect Cold War anxieties and the fear of nuclear catastrophe, while also addressing social decay and moral blindness.

Conclusion: 

Both Frost and Dylan use narrative storytelling to explore profound philosophical questions and critique society.

• Frost’s poems often focus on individual choices, rural life, and existential themes, using simple yet symbolic stories.
• Dylan’s songs frequently highlight social injustices, historical events, and moral dilemmas, using music as a form of protest.

Despite working in different mediums, both artists blur the line between storytelling and philosophy, making their works timeless and universally relevant.

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References:

1)  Dylan, Bob. A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall. Bob Dylan, https://www.bobdylan.com/songs/hard-rains-gonna-fall/. Accessed 20 Feb. 2025.

2) Dylan, Bob. Masters of War. Bob Dylan, https://www.bobdylan.com/songs/masters-war-mono/. Accessed 20 Feb. 2025.

3) Encyclopaedia Britannica, The Editors of. "Robert Frost." Encyclopaedia Britannica, 2024, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Robert-Frost. Accessed 20 Feb. 2025.

4) Frost, Robert. The Road Not Taken. Poetry Foundation, https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/44272/the-road-not-taken. Accessed 20 Feb. 2025.

5) Frost, Robert. Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening. Poetry Foundation, https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/42891/stopping-by-woods-on-a-snowy-evening. Accessed 20 Feb. 2025.

Thank you !!!