English 102 Poetry Essay - Robert Frost’s Poem “the Road Not Taken”

Poetry Essay

ENG 102-D25

Liberty University

POETRY ANALYSIS THESIS AND OUTLINE

While Robert Frost’s poem “The Road Not Taken” is clearly a metaphor, the reader can literally envision walking in the speaker’s shoes. Although, the decision was made “ages and ages hence” it is still so very fresh in the speakers mind that he can vividly describe the circumstances of the fateful day he chose to take the path that he did. With all the indecision described in the poem, the reader is left with the feeling the speaker is not just dissatisfied with his decision but regrets the path his life has taken and is convinced it is attributed to the “Road Not Taken.”

1. Interpretation

1. Simple but troubled poem
2. What are the metaphorical significances of the poem (condition of paths/time of year)?
3. The speaker displays dissatisfaction with his decision. Would he be satisfied with either path?

1. Message

a.  Significance of the title

b. How can the reader relate to the speakers predicament?

        3.   Overall attitude of the speaker/poem

                a. Indecisive and regretful

                b. Frosts/speakers intent

Robert Frost’s “The Road Not Taken” is one of his most popular poems and is widely known because of its simplicity. Although it is often described as simplistic, Frost himself described the poem as “a tricky poem, very tricky.” (Thompson & Winnick, 1982). The use of frequent metaphors throughout the four stanzas leaves the reader to interpret their own meanings. The personal interpretation is what makes the poem tricky; it depends on the reader for its meaning. Frost never defined the poem but did allude throughout the years that it was written about a close friend who he thought to be indecisive.

In the first two stanzas, the speaker starts off describing the figurative roads. “Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,” (Frost) the figurative road is a metaphor for the decision he is faced with. We can speculate the yellow wood is to be associated with the time of the year the decision was presented, fall; or possibly the fall of his life. Upon analyzing the poem, the reader can presume the speaker is conflicted with the life he is leading and is searching for signs to help him with his decision moving forward in life. The speaker indicates he did not take the decision lightly, “long I stood/ And looked down one as far as I could” (3-4) and quite possibly given the opportunity would like to take both roads, “And sorry I could not travel both” (2). He again makes his choice using another metaphor. After studying the characteristics of each road (decision), he describes each. The first (least desirable) “bent in the undergrowth”(5), and the other was “grassy and wanted wear;”(8). The speaker chose the path that was more desirable to him; perhaps convincing him that one was one less appealing in order to justify his reasons. However, after making the decision, he contradicts his initial claim and admits that both roads “Had worn them really about the same,”(10). Throughout the next few stanzas, the speaker questions the choice he made and continually speaks of his regret.