Explain how words and images in the first twenty lines of Robert Frost's poem "Birches" could be symbolic of World War I and its effects.

This is an intriguing question. The first twenty lines of
Robert Frost’s poem “Birches” might – just might – conceivably be related to World War I
in a number of ways.  Since the poem, thematically, deals with the issue of lost youth,
it is at least possible that the work may have some relevance the one of the most
destructive, tragic wars in human history – a war in which countless young people died
for little reason. If the birches are seen as young people who become bent (both
physically and mentally) and crippled (both physically and mentally) by their war-time
experiences, then the poem may indeed be relevant to the lingering effects of World War
I on the many young people who had to take part in that
conflict.

The poem’s first two lines imagine birches bent
down, temporarily, by childhood play – by boys swinging in the birches so that for a
time the trees lose their straightness.  Yet the speaker then proclaims
that

. . .
swinging doesn’t bend them down to stay

As ice-storms do.
(3-4)

If the ice-storms are
associated with the effects of war, which alter the young forever, then perhaps the poem
can be read as some kind of allegory about the effects of war. Especially intriguing, in
light of this possible interpretation, is the statement
that

. . .
once they are bowed

So low for long, they never right
themselves . . . (15-16)

Such
phrasing might conceivably be related to the long-term effects of war. One might even
read line 9, with its reference to cracking, as a reference to the destructive effects
of war. Line 12, with its reference to shattered glass, can be read in much the same
way. Likewise, line 14, with its reference to branches being dragged away by the load,
might also be interpreted in this fashion, especially considering the horrific numbers
of young people who were slaughtered in World War I.

On the
other hand, some of the phrasing in the first twenty lines (as well as later) suggests
that the speaker finds the bent birches (even the ones that are permanently bent)
beautiful in various ways. Moreover, in the rest of the poem, he deals primarily with
the birches that are not permanently bent. Also, the poem seems to have been written in
1913-14. World War I did not begin until August of the latter year, and the truly
destructive nature of the war did become apparent until later. The poem was first
published in August of 1915, and so it is possible that some of its first readers saw
some connection between the poem and World War I. The poem can be more plausibly
interpreted, however, in other ways.  If Frost had wanted to make some connection to
World War I, surely he could have offered more obvious hints.  Any attempt to interpret
the poem in the way you’ve suggested would need to be very carefully made.  Still, you
have given me something to think about, for which I thank you!