In analyzing the poem 'The Road Not Taken'; by Robert Frost, it represents 'the classic choice of a moment and a lifetime.';(pg 129) He relies much on the reflections of nature to convey his theme. However, this poem seems to be in essence very simple but opens the door for many interpretations.
In using a simple fork in a road, Frost writes much to symbolize life and choices in which one will make. Frost uses unique ability to see an ordinary, everyday activity to portray such a theme. By using such simple endeavors, Frost reaches his audience on a more personal level. However, it is only one's past, present and the attitude with which he or she looks upon the future that determines the shade of light in which the poem will be
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It is the way that he chooses here that sets him off on his journey and where the road will take him.
Then as we close out the first stanza, we establish that yet 'one'; road has been 'looked down'; as far as possible. However, the use of the semicolon after 'undergrowth'; initiates a turn of the head to lead into the examination of the other road. (pg133)
'Then took the other, just as fair, and having perhaps the better claim.'; What seems to have made it such a better claim is that 'it was grassy and wanted wear.'; It was a road obviously not for everyone because it seemed that the majority of people took the other often traveled path. Therefore, Frost calls this 'the road less traveled by.'; The simple fact that the traveler chooses to take this path over the frequently chosen path,indicates the type of personality in the traveler. It shows that the individual is one to not particularly follow the crowd but sets him apart from the rest by doing something new and unique. It is often called 'the path of least resistance.'; In being somewhat of an easier way with less obstacles to overcome.
'And both that morning equally lay in leaves no step had trodden black.'; The leaves had somewhat covered the ground and since the time they had fallen no one had yet to travel on this road. Perhaps Frost does this to show that each time a person comes to a point where they have to make a choice, it is new to them. It envisions that it is somewhere the traveler has never been.
Just as Conrad conveys the creation of one’s own path subconsciously in Marlow, the poem “Road not taken” by Robert Frost explores this idea, represented my literal paths and an alternate, unspoken third path. The metaphor of the physical journey shows the moral growth in the protagonist. The poem is written in first person, giving it a very personal and reflective tone, expressing a pivotal moment in the persona’s life. The use of andante, the flowing rhythm establishes a conversational tone. The rhyme scheme is simple and effective throughout the poem, however, it changes in the final stanza. By implementing a new scheme here, the final thought of reflection is emphasized. The "less traveled" road is symbolic of the gamble of choosing a more individual path in life, the protagonist’s own road. This can be compared to the quote by Antonio Machado, “Travelers, there is no path, paths are made by walking.” This quote exemplifies the fact that walking the path is more important than
Frost uses several techniques in his poem, but perhaps the most significant is his use of the metaphor. First, he describes “Two roads diverged in a yellow wood” (1). The roads represent the different choices that people have to make in life and how there isn’t always one choice to be made. Each path is an important decision which he must make, so he has to choose carefully when examining each path. When he “looked down one as far as (he) could to where it bent in the undergrowth” (4-5), this represents him not being able to predict and see the future. The forest represents the unknown, and he cannot see or predict his unknown future. One may think that his choice
As college students, our “road” is what major we will choose and this will help decide the outcome of our future. When one decides to follow God a divided path becomes the focus of our lives, do we continue down the path we have been on our whole lives, and is well known but will surely lead to death? On the other hand, do we choose the path God would have us take not only changing our lives, but in the end instead of an eternity spent in the cold grip of death, we find eternal life?
The analysis of “The Road Not Taken” by Robert Frost has been up for debate since the poem release in 1916. It is known to be one of the most frequently misinterpreted poems of all time, and even Robert Frost himself has said the poem is “tricky” to comprehend (The). When analyzing this poem many readers tend to focus only on the last lines of the poem and get caught in a trap of selective-interpretation. Quite a few people after reading Robert Frost’s poem firmly conclude that this poem is about non-conformity and individualism, however, that is not the case. Robert Frost’s poem is meant to be analyzed line by line for a complete interpretation. Readers can conclude that the poem represents making choices in life, but that is not the
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 Road Not Taken” written by Robert Frost uses several poetic devices such as imagery and personification to emphasize how indecisive Frost is about his decision on which road he should take. “The Road Not Taken” is about how the narrator chooses a path that he was once confused and worried about but over time become content with his final decision.
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.
In Robert Frost’s “The Road Not Taken”, Frost shows the everyday human struggle to make a choice that could change the course of one’s life. In his poem, a person has the choice to take one road or the other. One road is worn out from many people taking it, and the other is barely touched, for fewer have taken that road. Throughout the poem, the speaker learns that just because so many other people have done one thing, or walked one way, does not mean everyone has to. Sometimes you just have to go your own way.
Frost writes this poem with a calm and collective narration, spoken by the traveler, who is talking with himself trying to decide which road is the better choice. In line one Frost introduces the diverging roads, which are his main metaphors. Diverging being the key word in this line because it suggests that the traveler must make a choice. Line two the traveler expresses his grief of not being able to travel both. Yet, the choice is not easy, since "long I stood" (3)
Choose the Path that Benefits Yourself, Not Others The Alchemist and “The Road Not Taken” strongly resemble each other in ways of explaining one’s journey. Both of the characters in these selections choose to attempt a new path on their own, hoping to complete a certain goal. While doing so, these characters often face discouraging events or sights provoked by other people. These factors point to the theme of “choose the path that benefits yourself, not others.”
A first look at The Road Not Taken shows the narrator’s cheery story of going against the flow of society and deciding to take the path that the narrator wants. Despite the pessimistic outlook on life, Frost’s poems emit life’s reality. Robert Frost’s outlook on life is truthful and not a fantasy.
A motif in Robert Frost’s “The Road Not Taken” is choosing between two roads in the woods, a theme would be that one decision can change a person’s entire life. The motif is repeatedly said throughout the poem and is a constant reminder that the author chose one road over the other. The poem revolves around that author’s choice to pick the road he felt like taking. At the end of the poem the author states, “I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.”, this represents that he took the path he felt like taking, not because it was the one more traveled on, but because he wanted to make his own decisions for himself. And when the author “looked down one as far as I could / To where it bent in the undergrowth”, he was
In "The Road not Taken" Frost talks about a fork in the road and seeing that he is only one person he has to choose one path over the other, after thinking for a long time he decides to take the one that looks more worn out. This shows his adventurous nature. Later thinking back he says that both paths "had worn..really about the same" but says if he were to tell the story again he'd claim with a sigh
Robert Frost's poem “The Road Not Taken” describes a traveler facing a choice, he can either choose the road not taken, or he can choose the road most traveled by. He does not know where either road might lead, but in order to continue with his journey, he can pick only one road. He analyses both roads for the possibilities of where each may take him in his journey. 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. Frost, uses literary elements, such as Denotation and Connotation, Symbolism, alliteration, consonance, and assonance in order to convey massage.
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