Analysis of Range Finding by Robert Frost

This poem talks about a spider’s web in the beginning and then talks about a flower and a bird. Then, in the second stanza, it goes back to talking about the spider and its web. The poem is also talking about what goes on in nature when there is a war. The poem focuses on detail and drawing a picture for the reader. The poem is driven by visual and thematic mode. In his poem “Range Finding”, Robert Frost uses rhyme, mood, nature’s point of view, and vivid vocabulary to draw a clear picture.
Robert Frost uses precise and vivid vocabulary in his poem “Range Finding”. An example of precise vocabulary is “The battle rent a cobweb diamond-strung” (Robert) clearly painting a picture in the reader’s mind that the spider web was in the shape of a diamond. An example of vivid vocabulary is “The stricken flower bent double and so hung.” (Robert) drawing a picture in the reader’s mind of the flower being broken and folded over.
Robert Frost uses nature’s point of view to help show that war does not only affect people. An example would be when he wrote “A sudden passing bullet shook it dry. The indwelling spider ran to greet the fly,” (Robert) showing that the bullet hit the cobweb making the spider think he caught dinner. While that may not seem like a big deal the spider coming out before actually catching something could scare off possible prey leaving the spider empty-handed. Another example would be “The stricken flower bent double and so hung.

And still the bird revisited her young.” (Robert) showing that even though the world around the bird is being disrupted the bird still cares for her own. While it may not seem like the war really affects the bird, but it is. Much like the bird is probably frightened of what might happen, but she still will take care of her family. All these examples show that it is driven by visual mode. This is because Robert Frost is painting a picture of the scene by going so in depth with the detail by saying the shape or color of things.
Robert Frost applies sounds to create a picture in “Range Finding”. He applies sound in this line “The stricken flower bent double and so hung.” (Robert) it gives off a sound of the flower being struck or hit by something. Another example is the line “A sudden passing bullet shook it dry.” (Robert) giving off the sound of a bullet going off but also a sound of something being shaken. He also uses vocabulary that appeals to the reader’s senses.
This line for example “And cut a flower beside a ground bird’s nest” (Robert) appeals to the reader’s sense of sight. This line makes the reader imagine a broken flower and bird’s nest. The line “The indwelling spider ran to greet the fly,” (Robert) also appeals to the reader’s sense of sight. This line has the reader imagining the spider getting excited and running to go get his prey. The way Robert Frost adds details like this make the poem intriguing and more creative. Therefore, making the reader more passionate about finishing the poem.
The poem creates a sympathetic feeling and makes you realize the beauty of nature. The poem creates a sympathetic by describing what happens to nature when there is a war. It makes you realize that people are not the only ones that go through the war. While people are the ones fighting the fight the actions and consequences are reflected in nature.
The line “A butterfly its fall had dispossessed” (Robert) is saying that the butterfly is deprived of its flower because of the war. That makes the reader sympathetic because the butterfly did not do anything but lost its home or somewhere for it to land. The poem is more than just something good to read it makes you realize that when you fight with someone you are not the only person affected by it. It teaches you to care for your surroundings.
In conclusion, Robert Frost uses rhyme, mood, nature’s point of view, and vivid vocabulary to draw a clear picture. Robert Frost intended to show how war does not only affect people. He achieved his goals by giving multiple examples of what happens to animals, insects, and plants during the war. He uses visual and thematic mode. The visual mode is applied through how much detail he puts into the words. The thematic mode is applied throughout the whole poem by introducing how things in nature are also affected by the war. Robert Frost does a very well job of painting a picture for the reader and making the poem interesting so that the reader does not get bored.