A Quest for Idyllic Beauty in the Land of Mystery: A Comparative Discussion of Rabindranath Tagore’s ÒAimless JourneyÓ (ÒNiruddesh YatraÓ) and Robert Frost’s ÒStopping by Woods on a Snowy EveningÓ

Abstract

A study in poetic affinities between Rabindranath Tagore and Robert Frost seems a bit strange to the reader as both the poets belong to two different nations. Apparently there is no connection between the two great poets one belongs to America and the other belongs to India with a poetic career spanning the last four decades of the 19^th century and the first four decades of the 20^th century. The affinities between Tagore and Frost are clearly seen in their works. In respect of their poetic vision, their attitude to nature, the world, sense of beauty and wonder, yearning for the ideal, both the poets share a considerable portion of similarities. However, a sense of divergence from each other prevails beneath the similarities as Tagore is a devotee and his appreciation, particularly in the West, refers to him as a mystic poet, while Frost is an agnostic. This paper attempts to make a comparative study of Frosts Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening and Tagores Aimless Journey with a view to unfolding the astonishing similarities and differences between the poets.

IIUC Studies Vol.12 December 2015: 27-40