Lit Device
Riley Bergue
Ms. Cornelius
AP Literature p.3
31 March 2013
Literary Device Four – Symbol A symbol “may be roughly defined as a something that means more than what it is” (Arp 91). A poem written by Robert Frost called The Road Not Taken shows an example of symbolism with the use of choosing between two roads. “Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, and sorry I could not travel both, and be one traveler, long I stood … 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” (Arp 90) . Within the poem, Robert Frost talks about coming across two different roads, although he has to choose between the two roads to get to his destination. He would end up choosing the road many would not usually take. This symbolizes the roads that people may have to take in life. If a person looks at this poem at the literal meaning, the person may get that the author found a new route to get somewhere. Although, analyzing this poem when it says, “I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference,” (Arp 90) means that sometimes a person needs to choose a different path in life that will lead them to a better place in the end. Sometimes us humans like to choose the roads in life that will be easy for them at the time, but in the end it will not benefit them in the long run. In the poem Robert Frost also states a quote saying, “Then took the other, as just as fair, and having perhaps the better claim, because it was grassy and wanted wear” (Arp 90). This quote is stating how this road was the one less traveled by everyone else and how the road just wanted to be stepped on and used just like other road when it’s the right this to do. Humans, in some opinions, like to go with what others are doing and want to do the “cool” things to do at the time. Although, with the character that Robert Frost has in this poem he took the road that most would not take. The roads are
Ms. Cornelius
AP Literature p.3
31 March 2013
Literary Device Four – Symbol A symbol “may be roughly defined as a something that means more than what it is” (Arp 91). A poem written by Robert Frost called The Road Not Taken shows an example of symbolism with the use of choosing between two roads. “Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, and sorry I could not travel both, and be one traveler, long I stood … 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” (Arp 90) . Within the poem, Robert Frost talks about coming across two different roads, although he has to choose between the two roads to get to his destination. He would end up choosing the road many would not usually take. This symbolizes the roads that people may have to take in life. If a person looks at this poem at the literal meaning, the person may get that the author found a new route to get somewhere. Although, analyzing this poem when it says, “I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference,” (Arp 90) means that sometimes a person needs to choose a different path in life that will lead them to a better place in the end. Sometimes us humans like to choose the roads in life that will be easy for them at the time, but in the end it will not benefit them in the long run. In the poem Robert Frost also states a quote saying, “Then took the other, as just as fair, and having perhaps the better claim, because it was grassy and wanted wear” (Arp 90). This quote is stating how this road was the one less traveled by everyone else and how the road just wanted to be stepped on and used just like other road when it’s the right this to do. Humans, in some opinions, like to go with what others are doing and want to do the “cool” things to do at the time. Although, with the character that Robert Frost has in this poem he took the road that most would not take. The roads are
Cited: Arp, Thomas R. Perrine’s Sound and Sense An Introduction to Poetry. 11th ed. New York: Artists Rights Society, 2003. Print.