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The Road Not Taken Analysis
In his poem The Road Not Taken, Robert Frost uses the idea of two roads in a forest to represent a decision one must make in their life. The poem is narrated in a way that allows many possible narrators. It is not written specifically with one type of person in mind, but simply narrated by any man or woman that is being faced with a choice to make. The narrator could be someone making a decision about marriage, college, a career, having children, along with several other possibilities. The situation in The Road Not Taken is the narrator being faced with both the more and less commonly made choices, and it is up to them to decide which one will be the choice they make. It seems as though the author, Robert Frost, has an underlying theme of risks and consequences.
The entire poem is one major metaphor. Frost directly compares walking down the worn path with making a decision that everyone makes. For example, if the narrator were someone deciding over a career, the common decision could be to choose the profession that makes the largest amount of money. The poem also compares the unworn path with the decision that is made less commonly. Using the same narrator as an example, this decision may be to take a career in a profession that makes less money but might make their life happier and more pleasant.
There are several elements to The Road Not Taken that help it to flow in a very smooth, unique manner. The rhyme scheme, “A-B-A-A-B”, is consistent throughout the poem and gives it a nice rhythm and mood. The even rhythm of each line keeps the reader interested by being continuous and making the poem more interesting. Another element is the number of syllables, which is also consistent at eight to ten syllables per line. These two elements of the poem help to keep the reader focused on the substance of the writing, instead of allowing their mind to become preoccupied by a pattern-less rhyme scheme or awkward arrangement of syllables. Frost uses a lot of short but descriptive phrases to put clear images into the readers head. For example, in the second stanza, lines eight through ten, the reader is able to understand and create an image from a very few words.
I have always enjoyed this poem. I think that it is easy for anyone to relate to, seeing as important decisions are made at many times throughout one’s life. When making a decision, there is almost always more than one choice. An example of this is choosing a career - there are endless possibilities, but one can’t choose them all. Consequences and results must be taken into consideration, as well as interest and happiness.
Robert Frost manipulates many literary devices in The Road Not Taken to give the poem a certain feel and edge. He uses a consistent number of syllables, rhyme scheme, imagery, and a major metaphor to change a deep message into a simple poem.
NOT DONE