Spoils of the Dead (Poem by Robert Lee Frost)

Spoils of the Dead

By Robert Lee Frost

Two fairies it was

    On a still summer day

Came forth in the woods

    With the flowers to play.

The flowers they plucked

    They cast on the ground

For others, and those

    For still others they found.

Flower-guided it was

    That they came as they ran

On something that lay

    In the shape of a man.

The snow must have made

    The feathery bed

When this one fell

    On the sleep of the dead.

But the snow was gone

    A long time ago,

And the body he wore

    Nigh gone with the snow.

The fairies drew near

    And keenly espied

A ring on his hand

    And a chain at his side.

They knelt in the leaves

    And eerily played

With the glittering things,

    And were not afraid.

And when they went home

    To hide in their burrow,

They took them along

    To play with to-morrow.

When you came on death,

    Did you not come flower-guided

Like the elves in the wood?

    I remember that I did.

But I recognised death

    With sorrow and dread,

And I hated and hate

    The spoils of the dead.

Poem Analysis:

Robert Frost, a master of American poetry, often explored profound themes of life and death in his works. In "Spoils of the Dead," Frost contemplates death through the lens of two fairies who stumble upon the remains of a human in the woods. This analysis article delves into the poem's themes of mortality, human relics, and the differing responses to death.

1. Two Fairies in Nature: The poem begins with the appearance of two fairies in a tranquil forest setting on a summer day. Frost sets a serene scene with the fairies frolicking among the flowers, emphasizing the contrast between the beauty of nature and the inevitable presence of death.
2. Discovery of the Corpse: As the fairies play among the flowers, they unexpectedly come across a human corpse, described as "something that lay in the shape of a man." This encounter is significant as it brings death into their world of innocence and wonder. The fairies' response to this discovery reveals a deeper reflection on the human condition.
3. Symbolism of the Corpse: The corpse, lying in the snow, is presented as a relic of the past, a remnant of a life once lived. Frost uses the imagery of the snow to convey the passage of time, suggesting that the body has been there for a long while. The corpse serves as a symbol of mortality and the inevitability of death that touches all living beings.
4. The Fairies' Reaction: Remarkably, the fairies are not frightened or repelled by the presence of death. They engage with the human remains, playing with the ring and chain found on the corpse. Their lack of fear signifies their innocence and underscores the idea that death is a natural part of the cycle of life. In their childlike curiosity, they are not repulsed by the spoils of the dead.
5. The Poet's Reflection: In the final stanza, Frost shifts the narrative voice from the fairies to a reflection on his own experience with death. He likens his encounter with death to that of the fairies, noting that he, too, recognized death. However, his response is different—he feels sorrow, dread, and a sense of hatred toward "the spoils of the dead." Frost's response reveals the complex emotions and existential questions that death often provokes in humans.

"Spoils of the Dead" by Robert Frost invites readers to contemplate the profound impact of death on the living. Through the fairies' encounter with a human corpse, Frost explores themes of innocence, mortality, and the differing responses to death. While the fairies accept death as a natural part of life, the poet grapples with the emotional weight and complexity of death's relics. This thought-provoking poem serves as a meditation on the human condition and the enduring presence of mortality in the natural world.