Journey
Symbolism of the Journey in "The Road Not Taken" and "A Worn Path"
ENG125: Introduction to Literature Deborah Duff Joshua Davis
11/ 05/ 2012
Symbolism of the Journey in "The Road Not Taken" and "A Worn Path" When reading a short story or a poem it is not possible to comprehend the author’s true meaning of his or her written word without implementing symbolism to bring the literary work to life. Sometimes the symbolism can be interpreted differently by each person. However, we do know that the symbolism of the literary work is created in the imagination of the writer to depict certain events or interrelated facets of the literary work. Moreover, the joy of reading is so that the reader can interpret what these symbols mean to them and begin the wonderful journey into the world of literature. As we read, we begin to unravel and decode the symbolic nature of the characters journey throughout the written word. Also; the journey is not only in the reading of the literary work but, in deciphering the symbolism to find its true meaning as it relates to you, the reader of the short story or poem. Therefore, we can see from Robert Frost’s poem, “The Road Not Taken,” and Eudora Welty’s short story, “A Worn Path” that the symbolism a writer uses is the journey to discovering the path of the literary work itself. The best example of this symbolic journey is Robert Frost’s poem, “The Road Not Taken.”. In this poem we read about a man who is walking along a path and then it forks off. He must make a choice and decide which path he will continue his journey upon. The decision seems simple enough. Should he take the path that everyone else seems to have chosen? Or does he take the path that is less chosen and more mysterious? This is a tough decision for him because the symbolism dictates that once he chooses a path there is no going back. In the end he chooses the path not often taken and winds up making the right decision.
ENG125: Introduction to Literature Deborah Duff Joshua Davis
11/ 05/ 2012
Symbolism of the Journey in "The Road Not Taken" and "A Worn Path" When reading a short story or a poem it is not possible to comprehend the author’s true meaning of his or her written word without implementing symbolism to bring the literary work to life. Sometimes the symbolism can be interpreted differently by each person. However, we do know that the symbolism of the literary work is created in the imagination of the writer to depict certain events or interrelated facets of the literary work. Moreover, the joy of reading is so that the reader can interpret what these symbols mean to them and begin the wonderful journey into the world of literature. As we read, we begin to unravel and decode the symbolic nature of the characters journey throughout the written word. Also; the journey is not only in the reading of the literary work but, in deciphering the symbolism to find its true meaning as it relates to you, the reader of the short story or poem. Therefore, we can see from Robert Frost’s poem, “The Road Not Taken,” and Eudora Welty’s short story, “A Worn Path” that the symbolism a writer uses is the journey to discovering the path of the literary work itself. The best example of this symbolic journey is Robert Frost’s poem, “The Road Not Taken.”. In this poem we read about a man who is walking along a path and then it forks off. He must make a choice and decide which path he will continue his journey upon. The decision seems simple enough. Should he take the path that everyone else seems to have chosen? Or does he take the path that is less chosen and more mysterious? This is a tough decision for him because the symbolism dictates that once he chooses a path there is no going back. In the end he chooses the path not often taken and winds up making the right decision.
References: Clugston, R.W. (2010) Journey Into Literature. San Diego, CA. Bridgepoint Education. Moberly, K. (Winter 2005/Spring 2006) Toward the North Star: Eudora Welty’s “A Worn Path” and the Slave Narrative Tradition. Vol Piwinski, D.J. (Winter 2008) Mistletoe in Eudora Welty’s ‘A Worn Path.’ 16 (1): 40-42. ANQ: A Quarterly Journal of Short Articles, Notes, and Reviews