Once by the Pacific
By: Robert Frost
By: Neil Anderson
Theme
Imagery
"Shattered water made a misty din" (1)
This shows how the ocean looked fierce and unpleasant.
"Clouds were low and hairy" (5)
Another example of something that looks upset and grimacing.
"Looked as if a night of dark intent" (10)
This foreshadowed that the way the ocean side looked one could tell it would not bring safe outcomes.
Rhyme
"Din" and "In" (1-2)
This rhyme set the tone for what the scene looked like and that something dangerous was approaching the ocean side.
"Age" and "Rage" (11-12)
This rhyme showed that the weather was now unstoppable as one should prepare for rage.
"Broken" and "Spoken" (13-14)
This rhyme completed the poem by saying that more than just the ocean can be fierce in nature.
Personification
"Waves looked over others coming in" (2)
This stated that numerous waves were approaching the shore and the human like quality of looking helped visualize that.
"And thought of doing something to the shore" (3)
This directly follows line two and shows that the waves are thinking about doing some major damage to the shoreline.
"The shore was lucky in being backed by cliff" (8)
This states that the shore is lucky that a cliff backs it because the intensity of the ocean coming in would otherwise destroy it.