Why does the narrator in "Stopping by Woods" stop by the woods? In _Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening_ by Frost: > Whose woods these are I think I know. > His house is in the village though; > He will not see me stopping here > To watch his woods fill up with snow. > > My little horse must think it queer > To stop without a farmhouse near > Between the woods and frozen lake > The darkest evening of the year. > > He gives his harness bells a shake > To ask if there is some mistake. > The only other sound’s the sweep > Of easy wind and downy flake. > > The woods are lovely, dark and deep, > But I have promises to keep, > And miles to go before I sleep, > And miles to go before I sleep. Why does the narrator stop in the woods at all? There's no farmhouse nearby and there's seemingly no reason the narrator stops in the woods when he has a promise to keep and miles to travel.

The narrator stops because he wants to **enjoy the scenery of the forest**. Assuming that the journey the narrator has to make is an extensive one ( _miles to go before I sleep_ ), the narrator wants to take a small break to watch the natural wonder of the snowfall and the beauty of the trees.

There are several lines that support this idea:

> To watch his woods fill up with snow.

This is the clearest statement of the purpose of the narrator stopping in the woods.

> The only other sound’s the sweep
>
> Of easy wind and downy flake.

This could be interpreted several ways, but to me, I see this as the narrator's wondrous appreciation of the heavy snowfall.

> The woods are lovely, dark and deep,

This line hints that the narrator wants to spend more time observing the forest, but he has commitments to main and thus, has to continue on his journey.