The Road Not Taken Analysis
The Road Not Taken Analysis
The poem “The Road Not Taken” written by Robert Frost represents the decisions that people make every day and the effect that these choices have on one’s life. The poem is a perfect example of ambiguity which is why the poem is interpreted in so many different ways. The main discrepancies between interpretations of this poem usually include the tone of the poem. Most interpretations are based on whether or not the poem is optimistic or pessimistic. The poem is made up of four stanzas with five lines each. The short length of the poem does not take away from the powerful meaning. Although people may never know Robert Frost’s true meaning behind this poem, people will continue to have their own beliefs and interpretations.
The speaker is immediately confronted with a conflict in the beginning of the poem. He is traveling alone through the woods when he arrives to a fork in road. He observed both roads and came to the conclusion that both were just as fair. He thought that maybe the one road was better because it was grassy, but both were worn about the same from people passing. The roads were equal and no one had walked on either yet that day. He marked the first road for another day although he doubts he will ever come back. He then goes on to say that he took the road that was less traveled by and that this choice he made has made all the difference.
Robert Frost does not go into great detail about when and where this poem takes place. The poem starts off with the line “Two roads diverged in a yellow wood” (1). The two separate roads create the conflict which forces the speaker to make a decision. The yellow wood indicates that the poem takes place during the season of fall. The line “In leaves no step had trodden black” (12) also proves that this occurs during fall time because there are leaves on the ground. These descriptions make me think that it is a nice day in the morning and that the leaves are changing
The poem “The Road Not Taken” written by Robert Frost represents the decisions that people make every day and the effect that these choices have on one’s life. The poem is a perfect example of ambiguity which is why the poem is interpreted in so many different ways. The main discrepancies between interpretations of this poem usually include the tone of the poem. Most interpretations are based on whether or not the poem is optimistic or pessimistic. The poem is made up of four stanzas with five lines each. The short length of the poem does not take away from the powerful meaning. Although people may never know Robert Frost’s true meaning behind this poem, people will continue to have their own beliefs and interpretations.
The speaker is immediately confronted with a conflict in the beginning of the poem. He is traveling alone through the woods when he arrives to a fork in road. He observed both roads and came to the conclusion that both were just as fair. He thought that maybe the one road was better because it was grassy, but both were worn about the same from people passing. The roads were equal and no one had walked on either yet that day. He marked the first road for another day although he doubts he will ever come back. He then goes on to say that he took the road that was less traveled by and that this choice he made has made all the difference.
Robert Frost does not go into great detail about when and where this poem takes place. The poem starts off with the line “Two roads diverged in a yellow wood” (1). The two separate roads create the conflict which forces the speaker to make a decision. The yellow wood indicates that the poem takes place during the season of fall. The line “In leaves no step had trodden black” (12) also proves that this occurs during fall time because there are leaves on the ground. These descriptions make me think that it is a nice day in the morning and that the leaves are changing
Cited: Grimes, Linda. “Robert Frost’s Tricky Poem.” Poetry. Suite101. 13 Nov. 2006. Web. 9 April 2012 “Quotes Regarding The Road Not Taken.” Retired Tractors. n.d. Web. 9 April 2012. “Summary and Analysis of ‘The Road Not Taken’ (1916)” GradeSaver. n.d. Web. 9 April 2012.