Analysis of the poem

Popularity of “Nothing Gold Can Stay”: The poem was written by Robert Frost, one of the greatest American poet.
‘Nothing Gold Can Stay’ is a famous short narrative poem about nature and its transience. The poem also illustrates
that change is indispensable and all change involves degeneration.

“Nothing Gold Can Stay” As a Representative of Mortality: This simple poem unfolds the idea of change and decay.
The poet presents the cycle of nature with a philosophical twist to express his ideas about the changing nature of
beautiful objects. He argues that just as the flowers live for one hour, the most beautiful and happy moments of life
also fade away. Therefore, these happy moments should be recognized and appreciated before they lose their
charm and glory.

Major Themes in “Nothing Gold Can Stay”: Transition, transience, and nature are the major themes of this poem.
The writer concentrates upon the loss of beautiful and good things that eventually disappears. He has used ‘seasons
and nature’ to create a tangible picture in the reader’s mind. The readers can imagine how gold bud transforms into
green leaves, implying how hours of pleasures slip away in the hands of the ever-changing cycle of time. Therefore,
one should value the beauty around them before it disappears with time.

Analysis of Literary Devices in “Nothing Gold Can Stay”

Consonance: Consonance is the repetition of consonant sounds in the same line such as the sound of /n/ in “So
dawn goes down to day”.

Alliteration: Alliteration is the repetition sounds in the same line such as the sound of /d/ in “So dawn goes down to
day”.

Imagery: Imagery is used to make readers perceive things involving their five senses. For example, “Nature’s first
green is gold”; “Then leaf subsides to leaf” and “So dawn goes down to day.”

Personification: Personification is to give human qualities to inanimate objects. Frost has personified nature
throughout the poem. Nature is referred to as “her” which shows that nature is a person who can change according
to the seasons.

Metaphor: It is a figure of speech in which an implied comparison is made between different objects or persons. The
poet has used nature as a metaphor to represent the thought that nothing good and alluring can last forever.

Symbolism: Symbolism is a use of symbols signifying ideas and qualities, by giving them symbolic meanings different
from their literal meanings such as “gold” symbolizes happiness and all good things in life and “green” symbolizes
nature.