Analysis Of The Road Not Take

In the road not taken, Robert frost gives insight into human nature w/ each line of poetry. While he had not intended for this to be an inspirational poem, line by line, he encourages each of us to seek out our own path in the journey of life. Romanticizing the rural woods creates the perfect setting for the theme of self-discovery.

Robert Frost's original intent in writing the poem was not to convey the inspiration that it has for hundreds of years, but to simply poke fun at his friend Edward Thomas. Thomas, who loved taking walks, often found himself discouraged w/ the path he had chosen. In fact, Frost sent the poem to him and got the response, "what are you trying to do with me?" However, Frost did see the impact the poem was having and replied, "Do not follow where the path may leadÐ'...go instead where there is no path and leave a trail."

In the first stanza alone frost communicates many things. Line 1 "two roads diverge in a yellow wood" shows that he sees opportunity ahead of him with the use of the color yellow, further more a golden color. The two roads symbolize the choices and consequences he must choose. The next line "and sorry I could not choose both" illustrates how difficult it is to make a choice. The "what-if" voice may later emerge. "And being one traveler long I stood" shows how he would like to be in two places at once. Unable to do so he thinks long and hard about the choice he is about to make. Finally, he describes studying the firsts option with line 4 and 5, "and looked down one as far as I could to where is bent in the undergrowth."

Robert Frost continues to convey his message into the second stanza of the poem. In the opening line of this part, he says "then took the other just as fair." Here, he is turning his attention to the second road, his other opportunity, only to find is equally welcoming. However, in the next lines, he sees the difference in the two that will eventually help him make his decision. "And having perhaps the better claim, because it was grassy and wanted wear," shows that he recognizes that this second path is not for everyone, nor is it popular. It will take him somewhere new and different. Also, the fact that this second road appears different is more cause for wondering what will become of him if he takes a chance on choosing this one. The final part of this second stanza, "though as for that the passing there had worn them really about the same," tells the reader that many people had stood in that very place, with had the very same choice to make. Here most of us can recognize the feeling of whether we should follow the crowd or wander out on our own.

He continues to wrestle his decision in the third stanza. Even though many people before him have made the decision, he must make it for himself. The line "and both that morning equally lay in leaves no step had trodden back" shows neither path has been traveled on for awhile because the leaves have fallen n covered both paths equally. The next line in the stanza, "oh, I kept the first for another day!" expresses his want to go down both paths. At this point one can assume he is leaning toward jumping on the bandwagon and taking the path more often traveled. Then he turns his struggle and says, "yet knowing how way leads on to way, I doubted if I should ever come back." He is realizing that no choice is temporary, and if later he is unhappy with his decision he will not be able to go back and change it. Also he realizes that after he chooses between these two paths there will be more paths connected to the end of the one he picks. This thought applies more pressure to choose wisely, a pressure that everyone feels at one time or another.

Frost decides fate in the final stanza. Although he realizes that he

is taking a chance in this