Metaphors In Poetry

In “The Road Not Taken” by Robert Frost, we are given a piece of art that simply will leave you clueless unless, you understand the pain and frustration the man is going through; when choosing what route he feels will give him the most joy. In the poem a man is walking through the woods and he comes upon a fork. He who wants to take both roads chooses the route that he feels is traveled less on. Little does he know that both road have been equally traveled on. He who travels on the route that has fresher leaves lies to himself, by convincing himself that he will come back and take the other route. Though it was a very stressful and a hard decision for the man to make, many people are put into very similar situations like in John Updike’s A and P and as well as in James Joyce’s Eveline. Both Sammy and Eveline find it troubling to make a decision that will change their life completely.

Robert Frosts “The Road Not Taken” is more symbolic of a choice one must make in their life in attempt to foresee the outcome before reaching the end, than it is about choosing the right path in the woods.

Metaphors in this poem allow for the reader to recognize that decisions are linked to the overall theme.

In the Robert Frost poem ‘’The Road Not Taken’’ there is a pervasive and in many ways intrinsic sense of journey throughout. In such, the poem explores an aspect associated with human decision, or indecision, relative to the oxymoron, that choices with the least the difference should bear the most indifference, but realistically, carry the most difficulty. This is conveyed through the use of several pivotal techniques. Where the first such instance is the use of an extended metaphor, where the poem as a whole becomes a literary embodiment of something more, the journey of life. The second technique used is the writing style of first person. Where in using this, the reader can depict a clear train of thought from the walker and understand

The poem relates the problem of decision-making that affects lives of individuals. The poet does not seem to regret the choice that he has made.  But, certainly he feels lonely. When there are several opportunities available, it often becomes difficult to make the right choice.  But, once a choice has been made one has to move ahead without turning back.  Determination and hope lead a person through difficult times.  The future is unpredictable.  With relentless pursuit and faith in oneself, anything can be achieved.

Both John Doone and Emily Dickinson wrote amazing poems. “Valediction Forbidding Mourning” and “Because I Could Not Stop for Death” come together to give the reader two different ideas of death in itself. There are also extended metaphors in each poem. The amazing part of both of these poems, is that you can get so much out of it from reading it over and over again. There are so many meanings to so many words inside these poems.

"Two roads diverged in a yellow wood and sorry I could not travel both." (Frost 1) - in life, there are many "paths" or choices; ways one can go in life. He explains that many people go one way, perhaps because others went that same way. "Then took the other, as just as fair, and having perhaps the better claim Because it was grassy and wanted wear" (Frost 1) In this, Frost is explaining that many people went one way while he wanted to travel the less worn one, because it might hold beautiful views – good experiences that no one else had gotten the chance to learn from. Life, he explains through this metaphor of travel, is full of choices. And going down one path may change ones life. "Two roads diverged in a yellow wood and I- I took the one less traveled by; and it has made all the difference." (Frost 1) Robert Frost continues to teach an important life lesson to readers around the world through this extended metaphor

Robert Frost's "The Road Not Taken" tells of someone faced with one of life's major decisions whereas only one direction can be chosen. Whichever road is taken will be final and will determine the direction that their life takes.

Robert Frost’s poem,”The Road not taken” was first published in The Atlantic Monthly in 1915 and included a year later in the little volume entitled Mountail Interval.It is among Frost’s best, most riveting, and most complex and is still quoted by inspirational speakers, writers, commercials, and everyday people. The poem is about making a decision when confronted with two possible choices. Life is not simple; a man is never faced with a choice that just has one narrow path. In “The Road Not Taken,” Robert Frost uses symbolism through nature to analyze one’s decision-making through life; and the narrator hopes that his choices will not haunt him for the rest of his life. In this paper, I would like to interpret the decision making analysis

For many years people have been able to share their feelings and emotions through art,songs, novels, poems, etc. These artists, musicians, authors, and poets have been able to connect with others. For example, poems can be interpreted differently by readers. A poem has the flexibility to relate to anyone who reads it. There are many different types of poems in the sense of structure, which inlucudes the rhyme scheme, stanzas, and lines. With in the structure of the poem the reader may encounter similes, metaphors, alliteration, personification, and paradox along with many other literary terms. These literary terms are what make poetry unique and engaging for readers. Readers are able to ponder the meaning of the poem and the complexity of

Poems can be the most sensitive and amazing piece of writing out there. Poems are used with metaphors, similes, symbols and allegories. This helps enhance the meaning and helps make a fresh understanding of it. People may see these poems differently from one another. You have to have an open mind at all times to fully comprehend what the author is trying to say. I have chosen three poems out of many, to show you the different metaphors and how they enhance the poem. The poems are “What Work Is” by Philip Levine, “The Secretary Chant” by Marge Piercy and “Lady in the Pink Mustang” by Louise Erdrich.

In life, we make choices and these are one-way roads, we cannot go back and change them. This poem is about identity and how each of our choices in life helps to define who we are or will become. It is only natural, to me, to look down the roads as far as one can see, before deciding which road to take. When I have to make decisions, I look at these roads, as far as I can, and then decide which road to take. Our choices, such as career, studies, marriage, moral decisions, etc., help define who we are and shape our identity. So our choices become part of us. This poem has reinforced for me how important choices are in one’s life, as we can’t go back and take another road, and therefore I will now reflect on my choices with more caution and thoughtfulness. I will visualize these two roads in a “yellow wood” in my mind’s eye and consider the importance of my decisions and

Robert Frost ‘s “The Road Not Taken” the author describes an internal conflict with the protagonist in the poem being in the woods, when two different paths emerge for him to take. The paths are described as looking the same “Though as for that, the passing there Had worn them really about the same “() himself there and then hastily chooses a path. The path could be taken quite literally because he describes how the paths look physically. Upon further reading the poem takes on a quite metaphorical approach with the author having two decisions in front of him and the one he chooses will set up a chain of events in his life. The driving force in the poem is laced in a sense of regret for the future because he wonders what would have happened if he took the other road.

“The Road Not Taken” is a poem that involves a common dilemma faced in every single life. Robert Frost wrote the poem trying to explain to his friend Edward Thomas that he took the best decision in his life taking the road least travel. His friend misunderstood Frost intentions and after read the poem, he took the other road in his life and it made all the difference. Instead of travel to America and be a great professor, Thomas felt the sensation of be an unsuccessful writer and a non-patriotic citizen which help him to take the decision of enlist during the war. After taking the other road in his life, he finishes with his life during the war. The poem creates a connection with the reader because the situation presented emphasizes the life of any person. Every person is forced to decide a path and the decision made it, will always make a difference. The result of a person's character or life is related in the decisions made it during his or her life. In “The Road Not Taken”, Robert Frost uses different types of conflicts, character versus self, character versus nature, character versus society, to show how the path taken in life makes all the difference.

The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost is an insightful poem, where he chose to represent his message by exploiting two roads as a symbol of a life decision. The author’s use of tone and literary devices such as metaphors and symbolism aid us in better grasping the message. The poem presents the obvious question of whether it is better to select a road in which many travel, or to select the road less traveled and discover it yourself. Consequently, the theme of the poem is about making decisions. The Road Not Taken is the best poem in the world because the theme is effectively recognized through the author’s tone, literary devices, and sound devices.