An Explication Of Robert Frost's The Road Not Taken
Sandra Emmanuel
Dr. Jacobs, Rosalyn
English 1102-229
April 2nd 2014
An Explication of Robert Frost’s “The Road Not Taken”
Frost’s “The Road Not Taken” stages the conflict of having to choose between two parts and the fear of the unknown. A part even though portrayed as physical in the poem, is more spiritual in real sense. The drama is shown by the speaker characterized as a man dwelling upon a decision that must be made. As a man, the speaker attempts to give an insight of his past and probably an explanation of the reason behind certain events that occurred in his life. This can be seen in the speaker’s archetypal dilemma, in the choice he is forced to make, a choice that could only be judged by future outcome.
The theme …show more content…
Although unsure of his choice, the speaker had reasons to choose the path he decided to take. The phrase “Because it was grassy and wanted wear” (line 8), is an implication that the path looks like one that has been avoided for many reasons unknown and therefore requires usage. His will to make a difference and to distinguish himself from the norm is the more reason for his choice, though in the end there was not that much difference. It can be attributed to the choice some people make regardless of human expectations just because it was the best option at the time. Although he flourished as a poet, Frost came across difficult times and uncertain choices in his personal life. “His life after this time was one of increasing professional success together with a heavy burden of personal anxiety and grief” (Roberts, Zweig, …show more content…
Obviously, the outcome of his choice will be determined in his relief or regrets in the future. In the tone of this stanza, there is an anticipation of inaccuracies, at best or deceitful at worst, “I shall be telling this with a sigh” (line 16). The speaker would take a breath of liberation that significantly frees him from the dilemma he faced trying to decide which path to take. Significantly, there’s the fact that some choices in life cannot be avoided, it must be to be taken even without the knowledge of where it leads .The last two lines shows that the speaker still sticks to this decision as a crucial period of his life, not just because of the path he chose but because he had to make a choice in the first instance. Ironically, the poem is more about “the road treaded” as supposed to the title “the road not taken” which leaves a question of, if it was the right path or if the other path would have been a better option. Only the end could justify the “difference” in a choice that can only be made by the evaluation of option, and the consequences
Dr. Jacobs, Rosalyn
English 1102-229
April 2nd 2014
An Explication of Robert Frost’s “The Road Not Taken”
Frost’s “The Road Not Taken” stages the conflict of having to choose between two parts and the fear of the unknown. A part even though portrayed as physical in the poem, is more spiritual in real sense. The drama is shown by the speaker characterized as a man dwelling upon a decision that must be made. As a man, the speaker attempts to give an insight of his past and probably an explanation of the reason behind certain events that occurred in his life. This can be seen in the speaker’s archetypal dilemma, in the choice he is forced to make, a choice that could only be judged by future outcome.
The theme …show more content…
Although unsure of his choice, the speaker had reasons to choose the path he decided to take. The phrase “Because it was grassy and wanted wear” (line 8), is an implication that the path looks like one that has been avoided for many reasons unknown and therefore requires usage. His will to make a difference and to distinguish himself from the norm is the more reason for his choice, though in the end there was not that much difference. It can be attributed to the choice some people make regardless of human expectations just because it was the best option at the time. Although he flourished as a poet, Frost came across difficult times and uncertain choices in his personal life. “His life after this time was one of increasing professional success together with a heavy burden of personal anxiety and grief” (Roberts, Zweig, …show more content…
Obviously, the outcome of his choice will be determined in his relief or regrets in the future. In the tone of this stanza, there is an anticipation of inaccuracies, at best or deceitful at worst, “I shall be telling this with a sigh” (line 16). The speaker would take a breath of liberation that significantly frees him from the dilemma he faced trying to decide which path to take. Significantly, there’s the fact that some choices in life cannot be avoided, it must be to be taken even without the knowledge of where it leads .The last two lines shows that the speaker still sticks to this decision as a crucial period of his life, not just because of the path he chose but because he had to make a choice in the first instance. Ironically, the poem is more about “the road treaded” as supposed to the title “the road not taken” which leaves a question of, if it was the right path or if the other path would have been a better option. Only the end could justify the “difference” in a choice that can only be made by the evaluation of option, and the consequences