I have been one acquainted with the night. I have walked out in rain-and back in rain. I have outwalked the furthest city light. Acquainted with the night, by Robert Frost Anthology of American Literature (1010) Robinson was the first most important poet of the Twentieth Century. He is a"peoples poet" his poems' characters often provide "physiological portraits" of fictional andhistorical characters suffering an isolation of some sort (990). Robinson is considered atransitional figure; he is the precursor of Modernist poetry. He uses the older traditionalinfluences of form and rhyme and his poems are often simple and neat. However, in juxtapositionof these old and highly stylistic forms, he uses personal subject matter in the make-up of hischaracters. The use of these very personal experiences is what contributes to the intrigue thatmost readers feel when reading his poems. The imagery of these characters' problems and thetraditional form which feels like poetry to the average reader, is what creates Robinson's style. In addition, even though most of his poems are about country men or women who are limited interms of education and world knowledge, they are representative of the human experience. Thishelps to prevent Robinson, who is from New England, from being pegged as a regionalist writer. The theme of this poem is very much in keeping with Robinson's style of writing. He introducesthe reader to the deep and darker side of the characters, thereby giving us a view of theirhumanness. Then, in true modernist fashion we are left to resolve the conundrums these viewspresent to us, on our own. Mr. Floods Party is a perfect example of this type of work. Eben Flood is a character whose memories ebb and flow just like the tide, a loner who iscontent with the fact that his memories are his most cherished friends. A man who likes his owncompany better than the company of others., he likes himself as he has developed through they...
