![]() However, he finds both roads equally fair and admits that they have really been worn about the same. Frost claims that he chose the road “less traveled by”. Carefully perusing his descriptions we find that taking the road “less traveled by” is simply an excuse. In the first stanza Frost expresses his desire to travel both roads because he is “sorry I could not travel both”, yet declares that as “one traveler” he must pick his path. Frost’s description of each road conveys his understanding of each path at time X. To avoid confusion, I will refer to the former as time X and the latter as time Y. There are two different times in this poem: Frost when forced to make his choice, and Frost reflecting on his decision. However, we will see later how this is not necessarily the case. By taking the “road less traveled by” Frost is choosing to create his own way in the world instead of follow the path created by others most people would consider this to be courageous and would be keen to praise Frost for such a decision. The narrator was faced with a difficult choice to make in his life, and ultimately had to decide on only one of those roads. The narrator reaches a fork in the woods and must choose which road to take the narrator is not simply speaking of physical paths, but life choices. Nearly every person finds it easy to empathize with the narrator because nearly every person has encountered a similar scenario. In this poem, there lies a seemingly universal inclination. It is a subtle difference, but even if you do not pick up on it consciously the effect remains the same. Given by ABAAB it serves to place added emphasis on the second and last lines of each stanza this stress arises simply because we notice uncommon occurrences and become inured to what is regularly presented. The first thing I notice about this poem is the rhyme scheme. I am sure nearly all of you have heard of it however, it is usually just the last three lines that are presented, which often gives a misguided representation of the poem. This week I will be reviewing one of the most notable poems of Robert Frost. ![]() Wanderer, there is no road– Only wakes upon the sea.” By walking one makes the road, and upon glancing behind one sees the path that never will be trod again. Read the COMPLETE TEXT for "The Road Not Taken"Īre you ready to make a purchase? You can.“Wanderer, your footsteps are the road, and nothing more wanderer, there is no road, the road is made by walking. ![]() Signed prints from Susan Loy's original watercolor "The Road Not Taken” Robert Frost, print by Susan Loy ![]() The text forms a border of two thin brown lines that wind their way around a background of tan maple seeds, finally breaking off to form the inside circle that surrounds two yellow maple leaves. Robert Frost wrote the poem in 1916, when he was a poet-in-residence at Amherst College. 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. Oh, I kept the first for another day! Yet knowing how way leads on to way, I doubted if I should ever come back. 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,Īnd both that morning equally lay In leaves no step had trodden black. 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 The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost print by Susan Loy Īmericana Selections - "THE ROAD NOT TAKEN"
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