‘The Road Not Taken’;In analyzing the poem ‘The Road Not Taken’; by Robert Frost, it represents ‘the classic choice of a moment and a lifetime. ‘;(pg 129) He relies much on the reflections of nature to convey his theme. However, this poem seems to be in essence very simple but opens the door for many interpretations.
In using a simple fork in a road, Frost writes much to symbolize life and choices in which one will make. Frost uses unique ability to see an ordinary, everyday activity to portray such a theme. By using such simple endeavors, Frost reaches his audience on a more personal level. However, it is only one’s past, present and the attitude with which he or she looks upon the future that determines the shade of light in which the poem will be seen. (pg 621)There is never a straight path for one to follow on life’s journey. By using two paths in which to choose from, Frost leaves one to realize that everyone must travel and will reach a point of decision.
With stating ‘And sorry I could not travel both,’; Frost shows the point in which one will choose because there is only one path in which one may travel. It is most difficult to make a decision on each appealing path because everyone will always seem to question ‘what could I or could I not miss out on?’; The fact he is sorry he is sorry he cannot travel, or choose, both paves the way for regret. This will often be reflected upon by an individual in which saying ‘ what could have been’;leads one to dwelling over the choice of road in which they did not take. In knowing that each one may be influenced in many directions, Frost clearly implies ‘And be one traveler, long I stood. ‘; No matter how each of us may be influenced by family or various sources, there is only ‘one traveler’; that will be affected by any decision and there is quite a lengthy thought process involved.
Regardless of any outside influence there is only one to be involved and truly affected, as does any choice in life. In somewhat of an attempt to make a decision each person wants to carefully examine the unknown. In using sort of a checks and balances a person would weigh out the risk factor to be involved. Frost uses the line, ‘And looked down one as far as I could’; to portray an involved examination. The strain used in ‘as far as I could’; symbolizes somewhat of a unknown content of where the path may lead.
No matter what one knows of the beginning of a road there seems to be some unknown factor involved, as does any choice in life. It is the way that he chooses here that sets him off on his journey and where the road will take him. Then as we close out the first stanza, we establish that yet ‘one’; road has been ‘looked down’; as far as possible. However, the use of the semicolon after ‘undergrowth’; initiates a turn of the head to lead into the examination of the other road.
(pg133)’Then took the other, just as fair, and having perhaps the better claim. ‘; What seems to have made it such a better claim is that ‘it was grassy and wanted wear. ‘; It was a road obviously not for everyone because it seemed that the majority of people took theother often traveled path. Therefore, Frost calls this ‘the road less traveled by. ‘; The simple fact that the traveler chooses to take this path over the frequently chosen path,indicates the type of personality in the traveler.
It shows that the individual is one to not particularly follow the crowd but sets him apart from the rest by doing something new and unique. It is often called ‘the path of least resistance. ‘; In being somewhat of an easier way with less obstacles to overcome. ‘And both that morning equally lay in leaves no step had trodden black. ‘; The leaves had somewhat covered the ground and since the time they had fallen no one had yet to travel on this road.
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