Acquainted with the Night

Acquainted with the Night (1928)

Robert Frost

I have been one acquainted with the night.

I have walked out in rain -- and back in rain.

I have outwalked the furthest city light.

I have looked down the saddest city lane.

I have passed by the watchman on his beat 5

And dropped my eyes, unwilling to explain.

I have stood still and stopped the sound of feet

When far away an interrupted cry

Came over houses from another street,

But not to call me back or say good-bye; 10

And further still at an unearthly height

One luminary clock against the sky

Proclaimed the time was neither wrong nor right.

I have been one acquainted with the night.

1. How many stanzas does this poem contain?
2. What do the numbers to the right of poem delineate?
3. Who is the speaker of this poem?
4. What, in the most literal sense, does the speaker talk about in the poem?
5. Give an example from the poem that illustrates each of the following literary term and concepts:
1. a word possessing connotative significance
2. an image
3. a metaphor (extra credit)
4. a repetition
6. When considering the opening stanza, what words or phrases seem most worth commenting upon?
7. What is suggested by the speaker’s claim that he has “outwalked the furthest city light” (3)?
8. What do you think a “watchman” is? How does the speaker react to him? Why?
9. Describe what happens in lines 7-10. What does this suggest about the speaker?
10. What is the “luminary clock” (13)? What does it do and what does that mean?
11. Overall, what mood is created by the series of images that largely comprise this poem? Suggest at least three adjectives.
12. Is there anything about what the speaker says that suggests his tone is different than this mood? Explain.
13. What does this poem do? What is this poem about?
14. What is the affect of the speaker repeating the first and last lines?
15. Write an analytic paragraph dealing with a basic interpretation of this poem.