Robert Frost 

"The Road not Taken" written by Robert Frost is a lyric poem. It is one of his most well known and popular poems. The reason for such popularity of this poem is largely based on the poem’s simplicity and of its symbolism. The words are easy enough for a child to read but the meaning is so complex that there have been many university level scholarly debates done about the meaning behind this poem.

 

Meaning

This poem like many of Frost’s other poems is a poem that does not a require a large amount of explanation in terms of the phrases and words used, due to Frost’s intentions of making the poem as simple and understandable as possible. “The Road Not Taken” is about choosing paths and taking decisions. It is about making decisions in life and having to choosing between two separate paths that are given to us; one easier than the other, and the other more unknown and exciting.

 

At the beginning of the poem the setting is given when Frost says he is in the“yellow woods” where he encounters a fork road through the woods. He wishes he could somehow be able to “travel both” routes. This could be a metaphor for wishing to avoid taking decisions and for having an ideal of having both ways, which is impractical as he can’t travel in both paths at the same time. Frost then rejects that aspiration as impractical, when he says he chooses “the one less travelled by,” suggesting that his decision is not to follow the crowd but to take the different path. After this line, Frost seems to contradict his own judgement, when he says “Though as for that the passing here / Had worn them really about the same.” He appears to say that both paths were equally worn by the people who have passed by so it would not make that much of a difference anyway.

 

Frost continues to contradict himself. He decides to save the ‘perhaps’ more travelled route for another day but then confesses that there is less probability that he will return, implying that this “seemingly casual and inconsequential choice is likely to be crucial,” a choice that will involve commitment. Hereafter, in the final stanza Frost says that he will be “telling this with sigh” giving a sense of regret. Then he says, his choice, given whatever the event, “has made all the difference.” Overall the message that Frost is trying to spread with this poem is that: There are times in life, when we have to make choices, and one we have made our choice we cannot go back and change it. So we take the choice that seems best to us - and then make the best out of that choice.

 

Meter

• Iambic: is a poetic verse that is made up of iambs, which are metrical "feet" where each metrical "feet" consists of 2 stressed syllables (a and I would not be included here).

• Tetrameter: is a line or verse with 4 iambs or "feet", where one iamb is equal to two syllables, so a line following the tetrameter, would consist of 8 syllables (mix of stressed and unstressed syllables).

This poem follows one meter throughout. Frost writes it using  tetrameter four "feet" (definition shown above). If the first stanza of "The Road Not Taken" were broken up into units or feet (two syllables), it would look as so:

Two roads / di verged/ in a yel / low wood,

And sor/ ry I /could not trav / el both

And be/ one tra/veler, long /I stood

And looked/ down one/ as far /as I could

To where/ it bent /in the un/dergrowth;

 

Frost is quoted saying "there are only two meters; strict and loose iambic" and in the lines of this poem we can see what he means. Iambic consists of an unstressed syllable followed by a stressed one. There are 5 different forms of these. The forms are: iambic - 2 syllables, trochee - 2 syllables, spondee - 2 syllables, anapest - 3 syllables and lastly dactyl - 3 syllables. Some examples of iambic in the poem are: "di - verged", "and - be" and "it - bent". Frost did not use the form trochee in the first stanza. An example of spondee is "two - roads". Examples of anapest, known also as a triplet as it's "foot" consists of 3 syllables, are: "in - a - yel" and "as - I - could". As last, an example of dactyl form is "one - trav - el". Iambic, trochee and spondee come are known as strict rhyme and the triplets: anapest  and dactyl are forms of loose rhyme. With pattern of tetrameter, Frost uses loose rhyme and strict rhyme to make up this poem, the mix of forms, giving it a sort of dramatic effect.

 

Rhyme Scheme

This poem consists of four stanzas, each of which has five lines. The rhyme scheme of this poem is in the style of A - B - A - A - B for each of the four stanzas. This scheme shows that the poem falls into the category of a repeated form (for each stanza) where Frost did not use the common rhyme patterns.

 

Setting

The setting of the poem is a "yellow woods", the reason for the "yellow" woods could indicate that it is autumn while the speaker is living this moment. When we are given the hint that the season is autumn, images of the trees turning colours, the leaves that are falling off the trees with the crisp smell of autumn in the air. After reading the title and the first line of the poem mentioning "roads", we are given images of a little road, running through the woods. Also we are given the image that one of the road's is grassy, but neither of the roads show much sign of wear. Overall, the setting of this poem gives us a feeling 'warmth'.

 

Point of view

The poem is written with a first person point of view. This could be because Frost is relating the words of this poem to the experiences he has had in his life, or maybe he is just trying to display one of the most common human characteristic of decision making though the speaker. Either way, the first person point of view has an effect on the poem, as it brings it to a more personal level so that others facing similar situations can relate to it.

 

Mood and Tone

The mood at the beginning of the poem gives the sense of warmth of the "yellow wood" and in terms of the traveller's anticipation of having to choose his own path, the mood could reflect seriousness.

The tone however, focuses more on how Frost feels about the uncertainty of choices. In the poem he is unsure if has taken the wrong path and lost out on possible opportunities. As, Frost reflects on his decision, the tone of "The Road Not Taken" becomes serious and contemplative.

 

Themes

Individualism- the speakers chooses the road that he feels is best for his journey (life).

Caution- the speaker decides to take one road, but then thinking again and makes sure he is sure of the choice and then takes another road.

Commitment- The speaker does not have second thoughts after making his decision, that shows his commitment towards the choice he has made.

 

Imagery

The concept of nature and the season: autumn, is very persistent throughout the poem. For example, when Frost uses the setting yellow woods, he gives us the images of the autumn trees with yellow leaves that are slowly falling for this season. Also, in lines 8, 9 and 10 Frost tells the readers that one of the roads are grassy and that both of the roads are equally worn, giving the image of a fork road one with green and fresh green grass which is slightly worn and the other also worn around the same. Overall, words like "grassy" and "yellow woods" give a lot of imagery to readers like us.

 

Metaphor

- The road in the wood is used as a metaphor for life which the speaker is walking through or living through.

- Road splitting is used as a metaphor for choosing decisions in life. The fork in the wood is used throughout the poem as a metaphor for thinking before making decisions.

- In line 6; when the speaker thinks of taking one road but then takes another, this could be a metaphor for thinking of your choices before making a decision.

- Nature could be used as a metaphor. In the beginning of the poem, the setting is given as 'the woods are yellow' in other words autumn. This could be a metaphor for making decisions during the fall of your life in other words when you are getting older.

 

Repetition

"Somewhere ages and ages hence:" Frost is giving the word "ages" emphasis in this line using repetition. He is giving the effect that the 'time' he is talking about is far away from the day that he took his life decision.

 

Symbolism

Symbolism is an effective tool used in this poem. Frost symbolizes the two roads the speaker must choose between to represent the two choices he had to decide between. Another important detail to be noted is the setting "yellow wood" meaning that its autumn/fall, this could symbolize the fall of ones life in other words when one is getting older. In line 16 when Frost uses the word 'sigh' it symbolizes that the decision he took might be one he regretted or one he still has doubts about. Also, when he wanted to take the path that was used less over the path that was potentially fairer, symbolizes the statement that he doesn't want to be part of the crowd, he wants to be different and take risks. Overall, the symbolism in the poem really gives readers something to think about and also helps readers relate this poem to the similar situations they have in their lives.