...Sarah Gledhill Tara Aiken English Comp 2 March 25, 2016 The Road Not Traveled Robert Frost uses his poem The Road Not Traveled to highlight the difficulties of indecision through the use of symbolism, metaphors, and vivid imagery. The Road Not Traveled is a compilation of such devices that allude to a person making a decision, standing on the edge of a forked road peering out at two paths and having to choose one of the two. One road leads to a path most take, and can be considered safer, or reliable; the other being “the one less traveled by,” or, essentially, making his own path outside normal expectations. Robert Frost uses these poetic devices to narrate the moment of indecision that has probably plagued us all at one point or another at some time. “Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,” begins Frost, as he sets up the setting and theme of the entire poem in just the first sentence. Albeit simple, this single sentence does a lot for the poem, such as indicating to us that a decision needs to be made about which path to take amongst these two roads, while the yellow wood is a powerful descriptor to give us an idea of the setting. The first line speaking of the yellow wood provides us with an idea that it is probably autumn when trees in the wood would begin to turn yellow and die for the winter. The “wood” that is mentioned is a clear symbol for someone’s life, these two paths more than likely being paths the traveler can choose for his own future. Just those...
Words: 803 - Pages: 4
...decision that got us there. Whether you choose to graduate high school, earn your college degree, or pursue a career, these significant choices in our lives ultimately define us in our unseen futures. These decisions are the ones that make and shape someone into the person they are today and the people they will be in the future. This theme clarifies the ambiguous interpretation of Robert Frost’s “The Road Not Taken” as it is often misconstrued on its underlying meaning. Many believe Robert Frost’s intentions were to convey a message to discover new roads and challenge one’s self. Others believe the poem to stay true to its title and suggest that people should proceed along the road less traveled by others, in other words express individuality. The poem tells the story of Robert Frost himself, who comes to a fork in the road in his life and is not sure as to which path to proceed along. Each path looks just as good as the other, in fact they look exactly the same which is why he finds great difficulty in making a decision. When he finally chooses, he pictures what life would have been if he had taken the other. In this poem “The Road Not Taken”, Robert Frost portrays not of having the ability to make a choice, but rather how a choice defines him as an individual and how this ultimately affects his lives. Frost makes it clear that each path is virtually the same, so instead of the theme being taking the road less traveled by; it is truly about how the choice to take the road less traveled...
Words: 2221 - Pages: 9
...difficult when factoring two different types of literature. Sometimes different works of literature have the same theme yet are communicated in unique ways. I have chosen to do Robert Frosts "The Road Not Take," and the Jean Ryes "I Used to Live Here Once". Symbolism of the journey is in both of these literary works and it makes them both stronger and appealing to the readers. Being able to touch a reader and feel like the author is making it come alive is great because he know they are able to get their point across. There is always something to look for in a story that is so much more deep. It is our imagination that allows us, the readers, to use the descriptive words or symbols that are provided and create a mental vision. I will be comparing and contracting the style, form, and content. In this paper I will be accessing the area where both stories theme expressed the "The Journey." There is a similar theme in both "The Road Not Taken" and "I Used to Live Here Once." It was that no matter where we are in life or where we are going everyone has a choice to make. Everyone will make their very own destiny. But we cannot be fooled with the comparing themes as these two stories are very different when it comes to the way they were written and the symbolism used. They both describe an actual road or path which symbolizes the journey. A journey does not mean it is physical as it can be mental, spiritual, or even emotional. As a person will learn something along the way any way...
Words: 2144 - Pages: 9
...ROBERT FROST Born on the day of March 26, 1874, in San Francisco, California, Robert Lee Frost was one of America’s most famous poets. Frost received four Pulitzer Prizes before he died in 1963. The first one in 1924 for New Hampshire: A Poem with Notes and Grace Notes, then in1931 for Collected Poems, in 1937 for A Further Range, and the last on in 1943 for A Witness Tree. Married to Elinor Miriam White, who was his co-valedictorian at high school, he lived in various locations throughout his life, in San Francisco, California for the first ten years of his life, then moved to New England where he lived most of his years; he also lived in Great Britain for three years where he met Edward, T. E. Hulme and Ezra Pound. Pound would become the first American to write a review of Frost's work; it was also in England that Frost wrote some of his best work. Robert Frost attended Dartmouth College, where he stayed for a little over a semester, and also Harvard University for two years. Robert Frost grew up in a state of turmoil. From his tumultuous childhood right up until his death, Frost was a character who could speak at Harvard and live on a farm in New Hampshire. He could dazzle the brightest students with poetic ingenious, but boil life down to, “It’s hard to get into this world and hard to get out of it. And what’s in between doesn’t make much sense. If that sounds pessimistic, let it stand”. Robert Frost’s poems “Mending Wall” and “The Road Not Taken” both exemplify the struggle...
Words: 3370 - Pages: 14
... “The Road Not Taken” by Robert Frost is designed to show readers that the choices humans make may lead them down a road that will be beneficial or make them unhappy. I. Introduction A. Theme of the poem II. The Setting A. Season 1. Fall 2. Roads 3. Symbols III. Title A. Meaning 1. The Road Not Traveled IV. Rhyme and Metrical Device A. Stanza B. Rhyme V. Conclusion Poetry Essay: The Road Not Taken The poem, “The Road Not Taken”, by Robert Frost presents an interesting take on life and the choices people make about life. The theme of the poem is focused on roads that they are traveling through life, and no matter which road people travel, humans may or may not be happy with the choices that they take in life. These choices can cause unhappiness and regret. This is a lesson that all of humanity endures at multiple times throughout life. Every decision is a choice about which road people would like to travel down. The setting of the poem is in the woods. The woods are described as a yellow wood that has grass and leaves. By the setting, one might think it is fall, as the leaves are turning color and are falling to the ground, based on Frost’s comment, “In leaves no step had trodden black (Frost, 2010, p. 610)”. Frost also states in the poem, “Because it was grassy and wanted wear” (Frost, 2010); that gives you the impression that one of the roads seems to be traveled more than the other road. This...
Words: 844 - Pages: 4
...There’s much to say about Robert Frost’s The Road Not Taken. In what seems like a simplistic array of symbolisms, the metaphor of the poem takes us much deeper. It instantly creates an intimate bond to the familiar theme: Decisions. It was said that Frost referred the speaker of the poem to be his friend and colleague Edward Thomas. He would describe Thomas, as “a person, whichever road he went, would be sorry he didn’t go the other.” (cite) With that knowledge, it gives validity to the poems multiple layers of decision-making, regret and curiosity. The speaker begins with the vivid description in the first stanza of where he is and the significance of his dilemma. “Two roads diverged in a yellow wood” (1), is where the poet drops us right in the thick of it. The two roads are a metaphor to the important and crucial choices we must decide in our lives. Frost vividly and simply painted a picture with only his first line. He gave us a time, place, color, and a dilemma. The yellow wood is a description of the season, giving a visual of a forest with yellow leaves which concludes that its autumn. That indication also serves as a time limit to the decision, implying that the speaker is running out of time. The speaker must make their decision before winter comes, which is a cold and dead season of progressiveness. The yellow also serves as a cautionary color, giving warning to the speaker that the decision must be made with careful and astute consideration. There is also...
Words: 1149 - Pages: 5
...The Road Not Taken Robert Frost Mercado, Jency The Road Not Taken Robert Frost Mercado, Jency 2014 2014 Robert Frost’s poem “The Road Not Taken” speaks into your soul and gives you the decisions that need to be made in your life. The Road Not Taken shows you how your decision can and will affect your personal outcome in either positive or negative way. It helps you reflect in your past and helps plan for your future. Decisions in life can be the most difficult choices we make for ourselves, our families, our loved ones with each decision having consequences that can affect everyone around them. I chose this poem because it fits in my life. Choices and decisions, what road is the best road to pick, the road not taken or the well-worn path. Will the paths meet in the middle or take me different ways? This poem was written in first person so I wonder if he was conflicted about something in his life. He states that it was written on one of his friends who took the wrong path. (Hollis, 2014) “Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,” This is meant to be two roads that start out as one and splits into different directions. We all start out on a path and we need to pick our roads and the directions that it takes us. “And sorry I could not travel both.” He wants to take both paths, but he knows he can only go down one. “Long I stood, and looked down one as far as I could. To where it went in the undergrowth.” The choices we make and the paths we take are not simple...
Words: 775 - Pages: 4
...Frost's The Road Not Taken Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, And sorry I could not travel both And be one traveler, long I stood And looked down one as far as I could To where it bent in the undergrowth; Then took the other, as just as fair, And having perhaps the better claim, Because it was grassy and wanted wear; Though as for that the passing there Had worn them really about the same, And both that morning equally lay In leaves no step had trodden black. Oh, I kept the first for another day! Yet knowing how way leads on to way, I doubted if I should ever come back. I shall be telling this with a sigh Somewhere ages and ages hence: Two roads diverged in a wood, and I- I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference. - Robert Frost (1874-1963) In the poem titled 'The Road Not Taken' by Robert Frost, Frost describes an old man reflecting on a choice he had once made. This is a narrative poem, comprising four stanzas of five lines. In the poem, the poet suggests that a decision can change your life as it has far-reaching, significant consequences. Frost tells us that choices are extremely important. At the beginning of the poem, the speaker regrets that at some point in his life he could not take two roads, and had to be limited to one road only. He tried his best to see what was ahead on one of the roads he could have taken, but there were limitations as the road turned and disappeared in the bushes. Frost uses a ABAAB...
Words: 889 - Pages: 4
...“A Road Not Taken” Gabrielle Fitzgerald English 125 Michael Cooper 8/26/13 When reading a poem there are certain elements that draw in the reader to understand what is being said. A poem is a lot of information in each stanza so the reader has to really pay attention to what the poet is trying to convey. In the poem, “The Road Not Taken” by Robert Frost, three different elements were used that captured my attention. Imagery, theme, and difference are the elements that made this play stand out more than the others that I read. In my essay I will elaborate on these elements to establish how Frost’s poem was to convey a message that can be interpreted so many different ways. “A Road Not Taken” is told in first person point of view which is the start of what gives this poem more of a personal feel. This is the start of how Frost sets up the imagery of the poem. Frost uses a metaphor of the journey of life being compared to two roads that have come to a fork in the road. Each path is described as being equally attractive where the traveler is left to decide which way he should go. "Two roads diverged in a yellow wood" (from the first stanza), “And both that morning equally lay in leaves no step had trodden black" (from the third stanza) to create a picture in the reader's mind. (Clugston, 2010) I can see the traveler in this fork making a life decision not knowing where it will take him. He concludes by taking the road less traveled to see where life will take...
Words: 969 - Pages: 4
...in one way or another. The poem, "The Road Not Taken" tells a story of a man who reaches a fork in the road and must choose which path to take, each path different from the other. In this poem, Robert Frost contends that every decision we make, no matter how insignificant it may seem, will have an impact on our life. Robert Frost uses a walk in the woods as a metaphor for making a decision in life, a situation that people face daily. "Two roads diverged in a yellow wood . . . " Each road starts from the same place, but may lead to two entirely different destinations and the traveler has no idea where those destinations may be. Not sure which path to choose, and afraid of making the wrong choice, he compares the two roads, much like we do when contemplating a choice, analyzing the pros and cons. Many times, we tend to choose the easy way out. The path that is traveled more often has a predictable outcome that keeps us inside our comfort zone, even though it may not be the most beneficial choice. In his comparison of the two roads, Robert Frost shows us the importance of making a decision and how it could affect us later on in life. By comparing the two roads, the traveler finally makes up his mind, choosing the road that is more beautiful and less traveled. The traveler took the plunge, taking the road that had not been used as often as the other. Aware of how "way leads onto way . . . " the traveler regrets that he cannot take both roads. Although he knows that he may never be...
Words: 603 - Pages: 3
... “The Road Not Taken” By Robert Frost Robert Frost wrote the poem “The Road Not Taken,” which is a lyrical poem that uses symbolism, emotion and imagery to portray a decision making process in his life. Frost was a young person with decisions to make concerning his future and the path to take. In (line 1) you can see the symbolism of "yellow wood," which could be the early time of day or the early time of his life. In (line 4) he stands “And looked down one as far as I could.” The path is symbolic in that Frost realizes he cannot physically see the end of the path nor can he see the end of the path of his life. In (line 2) Forest says "And sorry I could not travel both" emphasizes the yearning for the two paths before him. This is symbolic in that he could not travel down both paths, and he must choose one. This is a representation of good and evil and choosing how to make the right decision. In (line 15) “I doubted if I should ever come back” this is symbolic of the doubt Frost has for his future and the choices of the two paths before him. In the poem Frost shows himself to be an adventurer by saying in (line 12) “In leaves no step had trodden black” this is the path Frost takes, which is the one less traveled. Frost feels good about the decision that he has made with the closing of the poem by saying, “I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.” Robert Frost comes to the decision on what path to take. Frost beautifully...
Words: 766 - Pages: 4
...ad not takenThe Road Not Taken” → Complete Text Two roads diverged in a yellow wood And sorry I could not travel both And be one traveler, long I stood And looked down one as far as I could To where it bent in the undergrowth; 5 Then took the other, as just as fair And having perhaps the better claim, Because it was grassy and wanted wear; Though as for that, the passing there Had worn them really about the same, 10 And both that morning equally lay In leaves no step had trodden black. Oh, I kept the first for another day! Yet knowing how way leads on to way, I doubted if I should ever come back. 15 I shall be telling this with a sigh Somewhere ages and ages hence: Two roads diverged in a wood and I— I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference. 20 Summary The speaker stands in the woods, considering a fork in the road. Both ways are equally worn and equally overlaid with un-trodden leaves. The speaker chooses one, telling himself that he will take the other another day. Yet he knows it is unlikely that he will have the opportunity to do so. And he admits that someday in the future he will recreate the scene with a slight twist: He will claim that he took the less-traveled road. Form “The Road Not Taken” consists of four stanzas of five lines. The rhyme scheme is ABAAB; the rhymes are strict and masculine, with the notable exception of the last line (we do not usually stress the -ence of difference). There are four...
Words: 2103 - Pages: 9
...THE OTHER ROAD: THE ROAD NOT TAKEN Barbara Smith ENG 102 Professor Downie February 15, 2012 Edited On: March 7, 2012 The Other Road Not Taken Outline Thesis: In the following paper, Robert Frost’s “The Road Not Taken”, will be broken up to show the themes, settings, and symbolism. I. Introduction II. Themes A. Choice B. Dreams, Hopes and Plans C. Man and the Natural World D. Exploration III. Settings A. Forest B. On a gravel or dirt road IV. Symbolism A. Roads B. Nature V. Conclusion The Other Road Not Taken Speaking on roads that are not taken can literally be analyzed on a personal stance. Before I get into the poem I would just like to take the time to make this a reality. We all know the singer Whitney Houston passed away a few weeks ago. Her life can be analyzed as being two roads and which one she should have taken. Whitney grew up in a church in New Jersey where she began singing in the church choir. Her career took off in 1987 officially. Fast forward a few years and the good girl we knew seemed to crumble up before our eyes. Whitney married Bobby Brown and had a daughter Bobbi Kristina. Whitney and Bobby’s relationship soon became a downhill ride over powered by drugs and alcohol. We thought by looking at her, that her career was over. She proved us wrong by coming back more faith driven than ever before and with a new attitude. You see in “The Road Not Taken”, you have a decision to make as to which...
Words: 1122 - Pages: 5
... Reading a story, a poem, or a play introduces you to an imaginary world (Clugston, W.R. (2010). When reading literature we must enter the imaginary world; enter the world the author is creating. The story “A Worn Path” by Eudora Welty in 1941 and the poem “The Road Not Taken” by Robert Frost in 1916 both use the theme of journey to symbolize life decisions. One speaks of a “Path” the other a “Road” the theme that each of these writings share is presented differently throughout the piece of literature. These two pieces of literature symbolize a journey, through using content, form, style, symbolism and imagination, although used differently in many ways they both are symbolizing a journey through life. The theme in a story is a representation of the idea behind the story (Clugston, W.R.(2010). In the pieces of literature I have chosen, the theme is speaking of journeys, one journey for love and the other life, but both having to make life decisions. The authors took different approaches in showing the reader the journey, the life decisions that had to be made. Both works have characters making a journey. In the poem “The Road Not Taken”, the narrator has been traveling and has reached a point where the road divides. The narrator is a traveler. Likewise, in the short story “A Worn Path”, the main character is on a trip to town. She is travelling from home through the pines up the hill and down the valley. In both the poem and the short story, the characters are walking...
Words: 2134 - Pages: 9
...The meaning behind “The Road Not Taken” Laura M. Beck Liberty University English 102 September 26th 2011 Outline I. Symbolism II. Theme The paths and choices of life III. Mood and setting Choosing the right path a. One leads to eternal life b. One leads to destruction IV. Conclusion Choosing the right path makes all the difference. Thesis statement: This poem is a symbol of choosing which path we will take in life – the path to eternal life or the path that leads to destruction. The meaning of “The Road Not Taken” Some people have said that Robert Frost’s poem “The Road Less Traveled” is a tricky poem. I have even read where Frost himself used the word “tricky” to describe this particular piece of his. However when reading the poem especially as a Christian there is one possible interpretation that should stand out. That is that this poem is a symbol of choosing which path we will take in life – the path to eternal life or the path that leads to destruction. From what I have read many people do not see the two roads as the two possible roads we can take in life, but one must see that at least as a possibility. The mood of this poem is one that is a bit on the serious side. Of course there are many poems much more serious than this, but it is not to be taken lightly. When something is talking about choosing eternal life, or the path that leads to destruction it is not something anybody should take lightly. That is the theme of the poem...
Words: 902 - Pages: 4
