Robert Frost’s poem ‘The Road not Taken’ is a piece that talks about the indecisiveness of the speaker and the apparent regret at the end due to either lack of choice or a mistake in making one. Looking closely, the piece is comprised of four stanzas comprised of five lines each. Within each stanza, some form of rhyming can be seen, particularly within alternating lines. This in turn demonstrates an irregular rhyming pattern. As for the structure, the poem offers reader a chronological order where the first stanza introduces the problem and builds on the situation on the second and third. The fourth part highlights the conclusion of the piece.
Examining the tone of the poem, the speaker remains to be troubled about the difficulty surrounding the choices he has to make. From how the poem is described, he explains the challenge of making the decision and the reason for this. For readers, it is a good way to analyze how a man reflects and balances a difficult situation that is happening. Though it may appear to be an easy decision, Frost writes the piece to showcase a specific catch that compels him to feel indecisive in the process. This remains to be supported by the line in Frost that says, “Though as for the passing there | Had worn them really about the same” (1).
This poem of Robert Frost can also be attributed to numerous uses of symbolisms that provide readers with the capacity to understand different realities happening in life. For instance, the use of roads in the poem is attributed to choices that people make. The direction that people take in life are often influenced by the decisions made in the past and present (Pritchard 1). Another symbolism is the color yellow in the first line of the poem. Arguably, in the literary field, this color shows people who are unsure or cowards in making important choices (Teen Ink 1). Equally, the word difference in the last line of the poem can be interpreted in both a positive and negative manner. Here, Frost leaves it to the reader to determine whether or not the choice made remains to be beneficial or destructive to his life.
Similarly, the poem can be analyzed through the use of themes. One of the evident themes that can be analyzed in the poem is the necessity of choices that individuals make. From the perspective of Frost in the poem, there will always be situations in life that would put individuals in a dilemma. These choices would define not only the individual but also the outcome of his/her life. The problems related to these decisions would coincide to the perspective of which one is better, when the direction provides almost the same outcome or result (Teen Ink 1). Though this may seem to be the case, it is almost necessary that people should choose the one that would ultimately influence life changes. In the poem, Frost mentions this by highlighting “I took the less one traveled by, | And that has made all the difference” (1). Arguably, this last line in the poem provides justification of how Frost made his choice and the impact it created in his life.
Overall, ‘The Road Not Taken’ remains to be one of the most famous poems of Robert Frost. Though there were no apparent uses of metaphors in the piece, it remains to be quite entertaining due to its ability to effectively utilize symbolisms and showcase the indecisive nature of man. By touching on this universal feature, the poem is able to provide ways for readers to offer differing interpretations and apply the piece on the relevance of choices and impact that decisions can bring to one’s life.
Works Cited
Frost, Robert. ‘The Road Not Taken’ Poetry Foundation, n.d. Web. Accessed 18 July 2014.
Pritchard, William. ‘On “The Road Not Taken”’ Illinois.edu.Web. 1984. Accessed 18 July 2014.
Teen Ink. Poetry Analysis of the Road Not Taken by Robert Frost, n.d. Web. Accessed 18 July 2014.