Final answer:
Robert Frost's 'After Apple-Picking' centers around the themes of life, mortality, and the cyclical nature of existence, as symbolized by the act of apple picking and conveyed through Frost's vivid descriptions of nature.
Step-by-step explanation:
One central theme in Robert Frost's After Apple-Picking is the contemplation of life and mortality, which is unveiled through the metaphor of apple picking. The poem begins with the narrator reflecting on his day spent picking apples, but as the poem progresses, the act of apple picking becomes a symbol for the tasks and choices one makes in life.
Frost's description of the overwhelming number of apples and the fatigue that comes with attempting to gather them all mirrors the exhaustive nature of life's demands and the knowledge that one cannot accomplish everything.Frost's love of nature is present in the vivid imagery of the orchard and the apples, which can be seen in lines such as "Essence of winter sleep is on the night" and "I am overtired / Of the great harvest I myself desired."
These lines indicate a profound respect and a personal connection to the natural world, a characteristic feature of Frost's poetry. Moreover, the metaphorical significance in phrases like "long sleep" suggest more existential themes such as the end of life or the pursuit of fulfillment.
By examining the structure and the various literary techniques used, readers can uncover themes of decaying and rebuilding as well as the cycle of life, represented by the recurring apple harvest and the seasonal changes.