Robert Frost's "The Road Not Taken" tells the story of a traveler making the decision to travel the road less traveled, but looking back upon the road not taken and wondering what might have been. On first glance the reader might assume that Frost is touting the benefits of taking the road less traveled, or the path in life that is perhaps most unclear. Too many people assume that the advantage lies in taken the road less traveled, and relate this poem to personal hardships endured by taking this path. However, it seems that Frost in actuality compares both roads in life as equally promising, and almost knocks the idea that the road less traveled is actually the better path. Mr. Frost comments on the tendency of humans to make decisions, but consistently reflect upon and consider or wonder what might have been.
From a strictly literal interpretation, Frost talks about having the courage to travel the road less taken, leaving the reader with the assumption that they can expand their horizons by taking risks and traveling the most different path. He indeed ends the poem with the idea that by taking the road less traveled, "a world of difference" has occurred in the life of the traveler.
However, more close examination of this poem reveals that Robert Frost describes both paths almost equal, or as the same. The title of the poem in fact, should lead the reader to consider the path that Frost does not take. The title emphasizes this path, because the traveler looks back upon this road, perhaps out of regret, perhaps out of curiosity, wondering what might have been, whether good or bad if this road were taken instead of the one selected.
ANALYSIS
Frost speaks symbolically of...
Robert Frost -- Life Issues and Parallels to My Life A Life Filled with Tragic Inspiration Robert Frost was a prolific American writer and poet whose work captured the difficulties some of the most challenging periods in modern American history as well as his personal trials and tribulations. Frost's work is known for the eloquence that he was able to express using the simple language of common colloquial speech (Holman & Snyder,
Robert Frost treats several themes in his short lyrical poem, "The Road Not Taken." First, Frost focuses on the notion of choice and decision: the narrator is faced with a fork in the road and must choose which path to take. He momentarily wishes that he could travel both paths at once and still be "one traveler," (line 3). After hemming and hawing, the narrator chooses the path less trodden.
"He gives his harness bells a shake / to ask if there is some mistake." The horse's action portrays the tendency of people to question those choices they don't understand. This scene can be interpreted as the disapproving voice of society voicing its demands on those of a more sensitive bent. In much the same vein as the previous stanza, Frost shows a depth of human understanding (and misunderstanding). Our
The last stanza is the protagonist's projection of what he thinks the future will hold. He imagines himself relating this day with a sigh to another, and letting them know that when he came to the fork in the road he took the road less traveled, and that made all the difference. We must remember two things the author said, first it is the story of his friend, Edward Thomas, and
Robert Frost wrote, "I have written to keep the over curious out of the secret places in my mind both in my verse and in my letters." In a poem, he wrote, "I have been one acquainted with the night." Those unfamiliar with Robert Frost's life story might not realize the significance of those words. Frost was born in a nearly lawless city and grew up in a highly dysfunctional
Frost's piece "Fire and Ice" is also rich with metaphors about the human condition. Frost begins his piece with "Some say the world will end in fire, some say in ice." Again at first glance, frost appears to be discussing the end of the world. However, his next line "From what I've tasted of desire, I'll hold with those who favor fire." Frost appears to be discussing the end of
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