the layers of meaning is interesting. The layers of this poem extend beyond the words into heads and popular culture. That most people read it in a way that, when looked at it logically, reads in another way makes a layer. This was mentioned in the article.
Is anyone being tripped up here or being tricked or mislead?
But, it doesn't tell us what Frost's intent was. I did a Google search and didn't find much.
> The manner in which you dismissed the new way of looking at them indicates that you are more interested in retaining the old meaning.
Boy - you make a lot of assumptions. I read Orr's article and disagree with his conclusions. I'm not interested in retaining anything in particular. Frost's intentions with his poem are irrelevant. I read the words and draw a conclusion. If I listen to a piece of music, I'm moved in a particular way irrespective of the composer's intent.
>You took it and read it as an attack on, well, what exactly?
I think you've implied much more than what I wrote (irony?). My only issue with Orr is that I perceive him to be smug. "The Most Misread Poem in America" is a purposely inflammatory title. Is it really possible to "misread" a poem? Poetry is not non-fiction. It is intended to be subtle and have layers of meaning.