Explication In Robert Frost's The Road Not Taken

There are many different ways to interpret a poem. While completing an analysis of Robert Frost's poem “The Road Not Taken” there were some key factors to be considered that provide a better insight of how the poem was developed and what was the hidden meaning behind the words. The key factors found in the analysis are symbolism, indistinctness, and irony. There are many different ways to express symbolism, and many ways to interpret it. The most significant use of symbolism was in the very first line of the poem, which describes a fork in the road in where the author must choose which path to take.

Not only are metaphors utilized throughout the poem, but a literary device known as Imagery is as well. Imagery is alternative as important a device for it allows for the reader to have a clear picture of what the character in the poem is visualizing. Furthermore, it also helps covey the theme the author is aiming to represent to the reader. Imagery is made known in stanza two line three, which states, “Because it was grassy and wanted wear” (Myer, 1091). Here the author is using imagery to inform the readers the traveler is coming up with a reason for why one path could be more favorable over the other. The reader analyzes this line of imagery to obtain a clearer representation of the traveler’s decision-making process. Another line where the author uses imagery is in stanza two line five, which states, “Had worn them really about the same” (Myer, 1091). Here the author is using imagery to inform the reader that the paths are “worn” down, which informs the reader that both of his choices have been equally chosen by people before him. These examples help the reader begin to form the theme of self-justification in decision-making. After analyzing the metaphors and the imagery Frost uses in this poem, the reader can conclude so far that the theme the poet is conveying

So I decided to write an explication essay on the poem “The Road Not Taken”. The poem is by Robert Frost and it tells the story about a man who is thinking about something he had done before. Even though what he did wasn’t looked as being good or bad, it was indicated the decision he made had an outcome that caused a shift in his life.

Frost uses the debating between the two roads to show the reader the two choices that are presented to him and how those two choices offer countless amount of possibilities. There are multiple different ways to decipher the poem, but Frost connects with the reader in the sense that no matter what road is taken, another road will later replace the past road. Frost begins to notice one of the two roads looks more worn down than the other, “Though as for that the passing there had worn them really about the same” this is representing real-life traumas and can show the decision making process when choosing between two options. Looking down one of the roads of life before actually following the trail shows a different perspective and point of view from the basic stand point of only seeing a problem one way and never seeing the problem or decision from another point of view. Frost decides in the end to take one of the paths and says he will take the second path another day although he may never go back to the starting point of his journey. It is more than just human instinct to not want to take the more unnatural or harmful pathway; it is easier to take the cleaner path so that the problem will be over with faster and Frost depicts this problem perfectly in the form of a short poem.

Robert Frost's poem “The Road Not Taken” describes a traveler faced with a choice of which one of two roads to travel. He knows not where either road might lead. In order to continue on his journey, he can pick only one road. He scrutinizes both roads for the possibilities of where they may take him in his travels. Frost's traveler realizes that regret is inevitable. Regardless of his choice, he knows that he will miss the experiences he might have encountered on the road not taken.

?The Road Not Taken? (1916) tells of someone faced with two of life?s decisions however only one can be chosen. Whichever road is taken will be final and will determine the direction that their life takes. Frost drives this poem by a calm and collective narrative, spoken by the traveler of the diverged roads. Who is speaking with himself trying to convince himself of which road is the better choice. Frost wrote this poem using standard, modern language.

One of Robert Frost’s most well know works: “The Road Not Taken”, is arguably one of the most controversial and misunderstood poems. By just reading the title, it seems fairly simple to assume that the poem is about making choices. When the speaker is presented the two roads he must make a choice as to which path he will take for he: “Could not travel both” (Line 2). As the speaker looks down both paths as far as he can, he deciphers back and forth from believing that the paths are equal to one path is better over the other. The speaker eventually decides which path to take and he states that his choice: “Has made all the difference” (Line 20). The title and plot lead people to believe that the central theme is about choices and the importance

Throughout the poem, Frost’s use of tone holds a large impact on the meaning of the poem. If the tone of the poem is misinterpreted, the entire mood of the poem is altered. The tone is recognized before the poem even begins: through the title “The Road Not Taken,” Frost imposes the idea that the speaker makes a decision and second guesses himself or herself. In addition to the title, the speaker says in the first

Thesis: In the poem “A Road Not Taken”, Robert Frost shares how sometimes in life one has to make decisions rather they’re good or bad. However there are consequences following one’s decisions and choices. One can use their second chance by looking forward and choosing to take the right paths in life.

The extended metaphor within this poem is the “two roads” which represent two different choices. Frost uses this metaphor from the start to finish of the poem in order to display the hardships of making choices. For example, in the first stanza the speaker claims that they are “sorry [they] could not travel both” roads. This sense of sadness and regret shows that Frost views decision making as difficult.

The most important word in this stanza and perhaps the most neglected is “roads”. What is significant about this word choice is that Frost could have simply chosen another word, perhaps “trails” or “paths” or “streets” and it could have transmitted the same meaning. But if you think deeper into the meaning it seems as Frost used the word “roads” because a road, unlike a trail, is man-made. I believe that Frost places the speaker in a setting where civilization and nature combine. The speaker is traveling alone in what seems to be a forest and whichever way he chooses to go, it is a course that was built by other individuals, in which he will take and far after he takes, other individuals will take as well.

"The Road Not Taken" (1916) is one of Robert Frost's most famous poems in which he presents the personal conflicts that he may have had to overcome throughout his lifetime to get to where he is. Frost is able to gain insight and inspiration from the natural surroundings that have helped to guide him and shape who he is.

The poem also explains roads that are often traveled. Just as there is a path we will less likely travel there is a road we will often travel. For example, we are always trying to figure out where we belong whether it is in a popular, unpopular, or normal life style. Each day we are faced with peer pressure whether it is to wear a certain outfit, listen to a certain type of music, or play a certain sport. This leads to groups of friends and social groups that may influence our daily behavior whether we know it or not. Frost wrote on line six, seven, and eight, “Then took the other, as just as fair, And having perhaps the better claim, Because it was glassy and wanted wear” (Booth, and Mays, 2011). I believe it means the road seems easy and the grass seemed greener on the other side, so they traveled to this side to accomplish an easier path. An example would be choosing to rob a store in order to feel important or popular because it seemed like the way to get attention. Just to find out that this way ended in a jail house behind bars. People make decisions to follow people and their choices whether it was good or bad. In the end, the decision we make can determine the road we travel later on in life.

Frost shows the readers that it is hard to choose something without knowing what will be the result, thus he wants to try both of the options to decide on something, when he says “Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,/ And sorry I could not travel both”. Whole poem is constructed of this metaphor, and every line refers to something in life. In the last part where Frost says, “I took the one less traveled by” he implies the idea that people wish to be different from others, thus they are prone to choose the option which had not been chosen by many other people. Instead of saying that he was having hard time deciding on a thing to do, Frost chose to use the metaphor of a road, which forced the readers to use their imagination to understand the real meaning behind what he

“The Road Not Taken” is a pleasurable and inspirational poem. It is pleasant because Frost was good at keeping the tone and mood light though it was a serious subject. Reading this poem can make one think more cautiously about the future decisions and the consequences that could follow. Frost uses a common experience that we all can relate to at one point in time in life. Reading this poem can also give individuals that chance to see how life gives you chances to choose, but it is up to you to choose the right