The Road Not Taken

Modernism can best be described as a transition from the Romanticism period to new ways of expression such as doubt, self-realization, and futuristic thoughts. During the modernism period Robert Frost’s, The Road Not Taken may be one of the most known works of the period. The poem talks about the different paths the author encounters, pondering about which path to take and what it may have held. Similarly, the reader may encounter many different paths to an understanding of the poem as well. Since the poem was actually written as a joke to a fellow poet and dear friend of Frost, a new reader may have difficulty understanding Frost’s use of humorous contradictions. An unexpected increase in the analysis of the poem took Frost by shock, but perhaps

Reading Frost’s poem, both reader and author travel down a road met by two paths as the poet seems hesitant about which path to take. Frost then creates an indecisive and gloomy feel, but quickly contradicts everything by the use of an unexpected exclamation mark. The strand in Frost’s unusual use of diction and punctuation may question what is truly trying to be stated. After further research Katherine Robinson and her Poem Guide, reinforced the reason the poem was written itself. Frost had actually wrote the poem for another poet, Edward Thomas when they had actually taken a walk together. Although Frost seemed indecisive and regretful, the background of the poem helps the reader understand his playfulness. In addition to the background of Frost, the world was also under an important time period well known as World War I. Frost’s use of this comic leap may also be hinting at the hope and joy the world held onto even after being split by two paths. Moreover, the first noticeable strand is with the word “and” which often times is used to emphasize overwhelming joy. However, Frost’s repetition of the word “and” numerous times always hinted at a second guess or remorse. After researching Jess Zimmerman’s article Robert Frost’s “The Road Not Taken” & World War I, Zimmerman similarly claimed, “he was jokingly mocking Thomas’ inability to make decisions” (Zimmerman, par. 2). Although

Frost’s thoughts from the path chosen not only reflect his own views, but also of the soldiers that would go to war. The repetitive use of the word “and” can be used to show excitement; however, Frost uses it as a way to express anxiousness. Similarly, the people of the time may have been in a similar anxious state of mind having to enlist under difficult economic stress. After acknowledging that the poem was written as a joke, the reader may have difficulty understanding how such a humor intended poem could be tied with death. However, Frost gives the reader numerous hints at a binary between life and death itself. Depicted throughout nature and by questioning his return, Frost not only becomes a man on a walk but also the unheard voice of thousands. Perhaps of the many reasons Frost’s poem gained popularity was the irony of a comical poem turning tragically true with the death of his friend and many more. After analyzing Frost’s poem the repetition, strands, and binary are equally important to understanding the history behind The Road Not