An Analysis Of The Eulogy Of Robert Frost

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In the eulogy that President John F. Kennedy gave for the lately departed poet, Robert Frost, only three out of the four common elements that Kunkel and Dennis found in eulogies can be found in this specific eulogy. The elements I found in this eulogy are positive reappraisal, praise, and problem-focused coping while self-disclosure of emotion, credibility, affirmation of vivid past relationships, and continuation of interactive bonds could not be found. John Kennedy imminently starts off with a positive reappraisal: “Robert Frost was one of the granite figures of our time in America. He was supremely two things—an artist and an American,” (lines 3-4). Kennedy is telling the thousands listening that Robert Frost not only had a good life but …show more content…

Kennedy is telling the audience that in Frost’s great life he accomplished a lot for this country. Kennedy gives a lot of praise to Frost for his accomplishments as a poet. The “special significance of Robert Frost” was that “he brought an unsparing instinct for reality to bear on the platitudes and pieties of society” and “his sense of human tragedy fortified him against self-deception and easy consolation,” (lines 19-22). John F. Kennedy admires how Frost has a realistic look on life and he shares this outlook with the rest of the world so they can also receive the benefits of this outlook. President Kennedy gave praise to this poet for knowing “the midnight as well as the high noon” and understanding “the ordeal as well as the triumph of the human spirt” because that was what “gave his age strength with which to overcome despair,” (lines 24-26). Frost was a man who understood all sides of the world and how it works. He shared this knowledge with his readers and was able to give them any necessary strength to overcome their own …show more content…

At the end of the speech Kennedy moves to the problem-focused coping element and tells the audience how they can honor the great and late Robert Frost. Keened urges society to “set the artist[s] free to follow [their] vision wherever it takes [them],” because what they create “nourish[es] the roots of our culture,” (lines 47-48). Kennedy desires that the country “never forget that art is not a form of propaganda” instead “it is a form of truth,” (lines 49). Frost was a unique artist whose vision was able to affect the world and Kennedy wants to make sure that future artist have a society that is willing to support their vision. Kennedy then makes an appeal to the artiest, he wants them to “remain true to himself and let the chips fall where they may,” (lines 55-56). If society is going to support future artist then these artist need to be true to themselves so they can make an impact on society. Kennedy does not establish any credibility in his speech, because he did not have much of a pervious relationship with Frost. The two had only met a couple of times when Frost was speaking at Kennedy’s

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