Robert Frost Quiz

By: Nathan Chandler
Image: Wiki Commons

About This Quiz

"And that has made all the difference."-Robert Frost. How much do you know about the acclaimed poet and his famous works about rural life? Find out by taking this quiz!

What was the name of Frost's first published volume of poetry?

Frost published "A Boy's Will" in 1913. "North of Boston" and "Mountain Interval" followed shortly afterwards, in that order.

Where was Robert Frost born?

Frost was born in San Francisco in 1874. His stay in the city, however, would not last for long.

Why did Frost's family move to Massachusetts when he was 11 years old?

Frost's father perished from tuberculosis when the boy was only 11, so his mother packed up the kids and headed back East. They reportedly only had $8 when his father died.

When did Frost publish his first poem?

His first poem appeared in a newspaper in 1894, when the poet was 20 years old.

What was the name of his first published poem?

"My Butterfly. An Elegy." was his first published poem. The verses contrast the joys of life with the sorrows of death.

After leaving school, which occupation did Frost NOT pursue?

He may not have been a blacksmith, but he did cobble shoes, teach, and of course, he worked as an editor.

The poem, "The Road Not Taken" was first included as part of which collection?

Published in 1916, "Mountain Interval" was the first collection to include "The Road Not Taken," which is probably Frost's best-known poem.

How did Frost obtain his first farm?

Frost's grandfather died and left the farm to him, along with a good chunk of money. Those resources helped give him time to sharpen his prose.

Where did Frost and his wife Elinor move after getting married?

After a decade on a farm, they gave up on farming and went to England, where Frost was heavily influenced by poets such as Robert Graves and Edward Thomas, among others.

Frost attended Harvard University.

Frost went to both Dartmouth and Harvard, although he never received a degree from the latter.

Why did Frost's wife first refuse his marriage proposal?

Elinor was attending St. Lawrence University and wanted to get her degree. She accepted his proposal after she graduated.

Frost considered suicide after Elinor refused his first marriage proposal.

He was distraught over Elinor and contemplated suicide. He did some traveling, returned, and then the two were reunited for the rest of their lives.

How many children did Frost have with his wife Elinor?

The Frosts had six children together, beginning with Elliot, who was born the year after the couple was married.

How many of his children did Frost outlive?

The Frost family was struck by one tragedy after another -- he outlived four of his six children, three of whom died when they were very young.

How long did Frost teach at Bread Loaf School of English of Middlebury College?

For more than 40 years, he taught at the college, which is located in Ripton, Vermont. He also taught frequently at Amherst College.

Frost recited a poem at the inauguration of which U.S. president?

At the inauguration of JFK, Frost recited "The Gift Outright." He was 86 years old at the time.

Who was Frost named after?

He was named after Robert E. Lee, the famous general of the Confederacy during the Civil War.

Frost said that "The Road Not Taken" was a commentary on which topic?

He said that the poem's theme was more slippery than most readers imagined, but that indecision was definitely part of the inspiration for writing it.

After giving up on farming, why did Robert and Elinor move to England?

Frost was struggling to find American publishers willing to take a chance on his work. In England, he found a more receptive audience.

Frost suffered from what condition?

Mental illness plagued the family. He was prone to bouts of depression, just like his mother.

How many Pulitzer Prizes for Poetry did Frost receive during his career?

Frost was widely recognized as a brilliant poet during his lifetime -- he received four Pulitzer Prizes for Poetry.

Why did the Frost couple move back to the U.S. in 1915?

The onset of WWI meant that Europe was a place of turmoil. The Frosts returned to America to escape the conflict.

How did Frost's son Carol die?

Carol killed himself. Frost's daughter Irma was committed to a mental hospital in 1947. And his wife, Elinor, also struggled with depression throughout her life.

In 1940, where did Frost buy a new home?

He bought five acres in Miami so that he'd have a place to warm his aging bones during the cold winters up north.

In what year did Frost receive the Congressional Gold Medal?

In 1960, he was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal, which is the highest civilian honor presented by Congress.

How did Frost's wife Elinor die?

Elinor was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1937, but she actually died in 1938 after suffering multiple heart attacks.

In 1961, Frost was named poet laureate of which state?

He was elected as poet laureate of Vermont by the Vermont State League of Women's Clubs.

Frost is the only person to receive two honorary degrees from which university?

He didn't graduate from Dartmouth, but he still wound up getting two honorary degrees from the college.

How did Frost die?

He was 86 when he had surgery for prostate cancer, but he never fully recovered. He died two years later.

What phrase is inscribed on Frost's gravestone?

The epitaph reads, "I had a lover's quarrel with the world," a phrase that sums up Frost's willingness to engage the world in spite of his hardships.

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