In celebration of July 4, we turn to one of the most distinctively American poets—Robert Frost—and a scholar and writer who has brought his voice vividly to life.
Earlier this year, Ralston College launched an online humanities short course—Robert Frost: The American Voice—taught by the celebrated American scholar, novelist, and biographer Jay Parini, who teaches literature at Middlebury College in Vermont and is a Visitor of Ralston College.
Timed to mark the 150th anniversary of Frost’s birth, the course invites participants into the life and “particular genius” of Frost, whom Parini describes as “the granite voice of American poetry.”
Filmed on location outside Frost’s own cabin in Vermont, the course blends readings, commentary, and personal insight into four digestible weekly units. Close to 2,000 students have already enrolled in this course, available for free on the FutureLearn platform, and with nearly 50 five-star reviews, it has been praised for its accessible yet profound delivery. One student wrote: “The course is well thought out and well executed. The presenter has a deep and abiding knowledge of Robert Frost and his poetry.”
For Parini, Frost is more than a literary figure—he is a lens through which we might better understand the American spirit. “He’s the perfect guide to the nature of America, to the nature of New England,” Parini says. “When I read the poetry of Frost, I’m looking at poetry that really touches my heart and somehow explains my life.”
Ralston’s president, Dr Stephen Blackwood, hosted Parini on the Ralston College Podcast for a far-reaching discussion on literature, the role of memory, and the meaning of a life devoted to the humanities. The conversation coincided with Parini’s time in Glasgow, Scotland, where he was acting as executive producer for a film adaptation of his memoir, Borges and Me. The film follows a younger Parini’s chance road trip with the Argentine writer Jorge Luis Borges across the Scottish Highlands.
This is not Parini’s first foray into film—The Last Station, based on his novel about Tolstoy’s final months, was nominated for two Academy Awards. But poetry remains Parini’s first and enduring love. In a moment of reflection during his visit, he shared: “Rather than listen to the evening news, I’d rather read Frost or Homer or Aeschylus, or read a passage from Dante, or an essay by Montaigne... There is just so much available to us with complex, beautiful expressions of the human experience.”
Parini’s advocacy for the memorization and recitation of poetry resonates deeply with Ralston College’s own approach. Students regularly recite poetry aloud—at College dinners—finding, as Parini does, that “you’ve got these poems in your heart, and in your head.”
As we approach Independence Day, Frost’s vision of America—rooted in land, labor, community, and clear-eyed reflection—feels especially poignant. Through Jay Parini’s guidance, Frost’s voice continues to speak with renewed clarity and purpose.
