The Road Not Taken

by Robert Frost

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Analysis

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim
Because it was grassy and wanted wear,
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I marked the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I,
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

First Impression: Smooth wording, in the sense that it is easily understood and gives the feeling of a deeper meaning.



Evocative Words:

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I,

I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.



Figurative Language: Frost envisions himself in the woods as a traveler, standing in front of a fork in the road. This is a representation of a person choosing between the options they may have.



Structure: Robert Frost develops a profound understanding through his poem by subtly flowing his words and not blatantly stating the message.



Big Idea: Despite being a well known poem, The Road Not Taken forms depth in thought towards the choices we make as people. What Frost is trying to convey is a sense of dignity in doing the right thing. Although many may not follow, taking the high road wil always prove to be the best route in the long run.