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Appreciation and analysis of Road not taken by Robert Frost
Robert Frost analysis of the road not taken
"The Road Not taken
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“The Road Not Taken,” by Robert Frost emphasizes how uncertainty in life can lead to regret or disappointment in the future. After analyzing this poem; there is no road less traveled. However, “The Road Not Taken” displays choice, equality, and sorrow. Before diving into the text; “The Road Not Taken” is written by Robert Frost. Then, while looking over the poem; the form of the poem has an iambic pentameter. With this in mind, there are four stanzas of five lines. There are also four stressed syllables per line. A rhyme scheme is also intertwined throughout the poem. This rhyme scheme is an ABAAB pattern. Some examples of this rhyme are: ‘stood’ (line 3), ‘could’ (line 4) / ‘claim’ (line 7), ‘same’ (line 10) / ‘lay’, ‘day’, ‘way’ (lines …show more content…
This shows the allegorical aspect. All in all, these are some of the beneficial ideas to keep in mind while reading the poem. As for the analysis of the text, the first two lines of the poem show a metaphor for ‘choice’. This exemplifies the part of the poem where Frost mentions, “Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, and I’m sorry I could not travel both.” (Lines 1, 2) After reading this piece of the poem, it is certain that the speaker has to choose which path to take. Equally important, this line also shows the uncertainty of what path to choose. What will be at the end of each path? Which path is taken the most? The least? Why? Afterwards, another decision and metaphor are made in the second stanza, first line. This example is: “Then took the other, as just as fair.” (Line 6) This piece of the poem shows a sudden decision made to take a path. Likewise, it also shows the uncertainty of what the other path, as well as the path chosen will be …show more content…
If he loves it, he will most likely come back as he said to take the other path. On the other hand, if the speaker regrets the path chosen; he may either not want to come back to the other path; or come back in hopes it will be a better outcome. Provided that, these are some examples of where choice is found during the reading of “The Road Not Taken”. As for equality; both paths are equally worn in the poem. This is true because the end of the second stanza states, “Though as for that the passing there Had worn them really about the same.” (Lines 9, 10) These lines express that the paths have been used about the same. Also, at the beginning of the third stanza, “And both that morning equally lay In leaves no step had trodden back.” (Lines 11, 12) This line also shows that no road is less traveled, and both paths are equally worn; even though they may have different appearances. These lines also help to describe the uncertainty of the speaker’s
Although the poems share common features of structure, style and a common theme, there is a distinct difference in the imagery and perspectives in the respective poems. The poem “The Lover Not Taken” shares an identical structure with “The Road Not Taken,” with an extra stanza containing two lines where Farley throws in the punch line to make a point. Both the poems develop a unique pattern of rhyming, where the first, third and fourth line rhyme; also, second and the fifth line end with rhyming words. Despite the use of similar words such as “stood” (2) and “sigh” (16), Farley manages to create an unrestrained and dynamic lead character, while Frost portrays a slow pace. Farley, although portraying a similar theme to that of Frost’s poem, intentionally contradicts the ideas in “The Road Not Taken,” only to unexpectedly choose the path “less travelled by” – the path of lust over love (Frost 19).
The poem is set in the fall when the leaves are changing colors and beginning to cover the ground. The speaker of the poem is faced with an unfamiliar fork in the road and is forced to decide which direction he or she must go. As the speaker is deliberating, he is “sorry” he cannot just travel both and it appears to be because the speaker has a fear of picking the wrong one (Frost 2). Although he “looked down one as far as I could” there was no seeing the end (4). Just like in a life, it is possible to have an idea of what will happen and there is no telling which choices will turn out beneficial and which will not. The speaker knows that although the paths are similar the outcome of picking the wrong one could be life changing. Even though he is upset he must trust in himself to know which one would be best for him in the long run.
Another poem that the title contributes to the overall meaning of the story is “The Road Not Taken” by Robert Frost. The speaker is in the woods considering a fork in the road. Both ways look the same, but he chooses the one and thinks he is going to take the other one another day, which it is unlikely to happen. The title of this poem is a clear statement of its subject since it suggests the two roads and the decision that has to make in order to choose one of them. This is a comparison to decision making in life. People encounter different paths in life, but at the end we end up choosing one but still thinking of the road not taken. We usually ask ourselves what if I took the other road instead.
Everyone is a traveler, carefully choosing which roads to follow on the map of life. There is never a straight path that leaves one with but a single direction in which to head. Robert Frost’s “The Road Not Taken'; can be interpreted in many different ways. The shade of light in which the reader sees the poem depends upon her past, present, and the attitude with which she looks toward her future. In any case however, this poem clearly demonstrates Frost’s belief that it is the road that one chooses that makes him the man he is.
The ambiguity which dominates the poem seems to be intentional. The only certainty in the poem is that it deals with a solitary traveler who has come to a fork in the road and must choose which way to go.
In “The Road Not Taken” Frost emphasizes that every person is a traveler choosing the roads to follow on the map of their continuous journey-life. There is never a straight path that leads a person one sole direction in which to head. Regardless of the original message that Robert Frost had intended to convey, “The Road Not Taken” has left me with many different interpretations. Throughout this poem, it is obvious that decisions are not easy to make and each decision will lead you down a different path.
In his celebrated poem "The Road Not Taken," Robert Frost describes the decision one makes when reaching a fork in the road. Some interpret Frost as suggesting regret on the part of the traveler as to not choosing the path he forgoes, for in doing so he has lost something significant. Others believe he is grateful for the selection, as it has made him the man he is. The diverging roads are symbolic of the choices society is faced with every day of life. Choosing one course will lead the traveler in one direction, while the other will likely move away, toward a completely different journey. How does one know which is the right path; is there a right path? The answer lies within each individual upon reflection of personal choices during the course of life's unfolding, as well as the attitude in which one looks to the future.
This poem by Robert Frost was first read to me in the last year of my high school experience. Back then, not only did I have absolutely no interest in any literary work, but moreover, had no intension to lye there and analyze a poem into its symbolic definitions. Only now have I been taught the proper way to read a literary work as a formalistic critic might read. With this new approach to literature I can understand the underlying meaning to Robert Frost's "The Road Not Taken". In addition to merely grasping the author's intension, I was able to justly incur that this poem, without directly mentioning anything about life's decisions, is in its entirety about just that.
The two roads presented in this poem represent difficult decisions we are faced with in life. He uses the relationship between the paths and real life decisions throughout the whole poem. This is an example of extended metaphor, which is used to help the readers understand the analogy between the two. The man in the poem said: “long I stood” (3), which lets us know the decision was not made instantly. It was hard for the man to make a final judgment.
I know that my view of the piece is not the only true way to go but I also know that this is poetry and it is meant to be looked at from different angles. I wouldn't be surprised if someone took the angle of saying that Frost was drunk and couldn't find his way home. There is no real answer to what this poem is about and I'm just taking the realist approach and saying that "The Road Not Taken," is not about life's ultimate choice but rather simply about a walk in the park.
Robert Frost’s “The Road Not Taken” and “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening” provide us contrasting and sometimes similar glimpses of life. “The Road Not Taken” is about taking control and living life. “Stopping by Woods on Snowy Evening” entails the desire for rest, perhaps due to the speaker’s feelings of weariness from facing life’s struggles. The poet also explains the tough choices people stand before when traveling the road of life. Sometimes people regret the possibilities of the road not chosen, sometimes people feel proud about the road they have chosen.
Above all, 'The Road Not Taken'; can truly be interpreted through much symbolism as a clear-sighted representation of two fair choices. The two roads in the poem, although, 'diverging,'; lead in different directions. At the beginning they appear to be somewhat similar, but is apparent that miles away they will grow farther and farther away from each other. Similar to many choices faced in life. It is impossible to foresee the consequences of most major decisions we make and it is often necessary to make these decisions based on a little more than examining which choice 'wanted wear.'; In
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.
In the poem “The Road Not Taken”, author Robert Frost uses the simple image of a road to represent a person’s journey through life. A well-established poet, Frost does a proficient job of transforming a seemingly common road to one of great importance, which along the way helps one identify who they really are. This poem is one of self-discovery. Frost incorporates strong elements of poetry such as theme, symbolism, rhyme scheme, diction, imagery, and tone to help create one of his most well known pieces about the human experience.
The overarching theme throughout the entire poem is that of choices. The concept of “two roads diverged,” or a split in the road, is a metaphor representing a choice which the narrator must make. Being “sorry [he] could not travel both… [being] one traveler” illustrates that, although he wishes he could see the results of both choices, as seen in saying he “looked as far as [he] could to where it bent,” he is but one pers...