The Road Not Taken
The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost relates on both a literal and metaphoric level to the
concept of a journey. The poem depicts one man’s journey throughout his life, the choices he
made and the road he travelled. The Road Not Taken is a poem with universal relevance about
a journey that every person takes. Here is a first person narrative tale of a monumental
moment in the speaker’s life - Frost can be considered the speaker. Frost is faced between the
choice of a moment and a lifetime manifested in his poem. Frost presents the idea of an
individual facing the difficult unalterable predilection of a moment and a lifetime. This idea in
Frost’s poem is embodied in the fork in the road, the decision between the two paths, and the
speaker’s decision to select the road not taken.
Frost effectively conveys his theme and meaning through the use of numerous techniques.
These techniques include simple yet powerful imagery, word choice and rhyme and rhythm.
Also vital in the effectiveness of this poem is the use of symbolism and the extended metaphor
present.
Literally this man is a traveller standing at the divergence of two roads. Metaphorically this man
is in the ‘autumn’ of his life, suggested by the “yellow wood” and has come to the crossroads
where decisions have to be made to determine the rest of his life. The subject chose “the road
not taken” by others and although he ponders what lies down the unknown at the end of his
life he is reminiscent and satisfied “I took the one less travelled by and that has made all the
difference.” A person’s life can be metaphorically related to a physical journey filled with many
twists and turns. Throughout this journey there are instants where choices between alternate
paths have to be made - the route a man decides to take is not always an easy one to
determine. The fork in the road represents the speaker’s encounter of having to choose from
two paths, a direction that will affect his the rest of his life. Frost presents to the reader a
moment in anyone’s life where an difficult dubious choice has to be made. There are an
abundance of options in life a person faces; Frost symbolises this in the diverging of the two
paths in his poem. The decision for which path to choose from can be hard to accept, just as
the revelation of the choices.
The two paths represent the options man has to choose from. Faced with these decisions, man
has to weigh his options carefully to make an optimal choice. At the split in the road, the
speaker looks far down both the two paths to see what each of the paths will bring. The
speaker’s sight is limited- his eyes can only see the path until it bends into "the undergrowth."
The author shows man’s attempts to tell which path is better by trying to for see what they will
behold down the road. Both roads diverge into a "yellow wood" and appear to be "about the
same" in their purpose. The first of the two paths is the more common route than the other
less traveled path, which "wanted wear." Frost presents a classic conflict- the decision between
the common easy path and the exceptional challenging path. Choosing the already known easy
path in life many people frequently endure reassures that the outcome will be predictable.
While choosing the "less traveled" road represents the gamble of facing a more difficult path in
life in hopes to achieve an incomparable and satisfactory life, contrasting the more familiar lives
other people take.
The title immediately introduces the reader into the poem and its meaning, yet poses the
question; When Frost writes The Road Not Taken is he implying the road he did not take or the
road not taken by others? And which is more important? The final lines suggests that although
he ponders what the other road may of given he is satisfied with his life and the road he took,
hence his road is more important to him.
The imagery in this poem can be taken at face value or examined for a deeper meaning, “yellow
wood” has connotations with autumn, which could suggest the ‘Golden Years’ of ones life. The
simple word choice interests the reader by not unnecessarily complicating the poem. This is
similar for the rhyme and rhythm scheme, which is simple and effective. Throughout the poem
the rhyme scheme is ABAAB except for the final stanza where Frost has created emphasis on the
last line “And that has made all the difference” by implementing a new scheme ABAAC where
the final though stands out, stand alone. The rhythm in the poem is very personal and informal.
The use of flowing and conversational rhythm establishes a personal connection between the
reader and writer.
The tone of the poem also enables the poem to relate to the reader on a personal level. The use of
lst person enables a direct insight into the subjects thoughts and feelings. The majority of the
poem is story like – with Frost acting as the narrator. Especially in the last stanza the poem’s
tone changes, into a more reminiscent and reflecting which results in a strong positive feeling
conveyed by Frost.
The Road Not Taken can be interpreted universally as a representation of two similar choices. At
the beginning the options seem comparable, but they will increasingly contrast with each other as
they diverge in their separate ways. Faced with very similar choices man tries to examine what
they have to offer, but often is not able to for tell the consequences. Man can opt to go the
common route, which is the more reliable, and have a common life or he can undergo the less
common route, which is unknown and often difficult, and have a unique life that stands out
above everyone else’s life. The choices a person makes in life are ultimately responsible for their
future, yet at the same time a person can never go back to the past and experience other
possibilities. It is unfeasible to predict the outcomes of capital decisions we make; often it is
essential to make these decisions fixed on nothing more than questioning which selection will
provide fulfilment. In the end, we reflect over the decisions we have made, and like Frost, sigh,
discovering they have made "all the difference."
The Road Not Taken effectively conveys the concept of a journey. Frost has used numerous
techniques to convey the meaning of the poem to the reader. The journey described here is the
universal journey every individual experiences, the journey of life.