About the author
Robert Lee Frost (1874 to 1963) was an American poet, initially he published his works in England and later on in the U.S Robert Frost was born in San Francisco his father was journalist. Frost graduated from Lawrence High School although he was brought up in city life, his attachment of rural life presented in his works.
Frost is known for his realistic
descriptions of rural life and his command of American colloquial speech
frequently wrote about settings of from rural life of New England in the early
20th century using them two examine the complex social and philosophical themes.
Notable works
(1) A Boy's will
(2) North of Boston
(3) The Road not Taken
(4) Fire and Ice
(5) New Hampshire
Frost is frequently honored during
his lifetime; he is only poet to receive 4 Pulitzer Prize for poetry. Frost becomes
one of the America's rare public literary figures, almost on artistic
Institution and he was also named as “Poet Laureate of Vermont.
Introduction
The Road not taken is a narrative
poem by Robert Frost initially published in 1915 and later on published in 1916
in ‘Mountain Interval’ which had some changes. The central theme is the
turning point of parts both of them literary figuratively although its
interpretations are noted for being Complex and potential diverse.
Frost spent many years in England
and during his time in England he became close friend to Edward Thomas with
whom he taken many walks together. One day while walking together they came
across two roads and Thomas was not sure which road to take after taking one of
the roads they always think that they should have taken the another one. Frost
decided to write the “Road not Taken” after his beloved friend’s Thomas's death
in World War 1.
This poem consists of four stanzas,
five lines each with the rhyming scheme of ABAAB the first line rhymes with
third and fourth and second rhymes with fifth. The fifth is basically Iambic
Tetrameter.
“The Road not Taken” reads naturally
or conversationally in compared to other poems, beginning as a kind of a
photographic depiction of a quiet moment in yellow. The variations of Rhythm
gives naturalness of a feeling to occurring, spontaneously affecting the reader’s
sense of expectation. In the final lines the rhyme and the rhythm work together
as significantly different and catches the Reader off guard.
Summary
Poet is in a situation where he was
walking down a road that had a diversion, so he had to choose between the two
paths. Since he was alone he could choose only one of the part two paths. The
wood was yellow which represents a world full of people who have been living
for many years.
The poet kept standing at that point
and looked at the paths very carefully; he looked as far as he could. Before
moving forward on one path he wants to understand how it was, was it suitable
for him to walk on it or not? He was able to see the path till from where it
got curved however afterwards it was covered with trees and thus it was hidden.
The poet wanted to understand the advantages and disadvantages of paths, the
thing same happens in life too, we have to make decisions thinking about its
good and bad consequences in the future.
The poet looked at one path for a
long time to decide whether it's good or not for him. Then he takes the
alternative path as he feels that both paths are equally good. He feels that
the path he chooses was better for him. The path was grassy which points out
that it was walked over by fewer people.
It portrays the path was unused,
however as he walks on the path for some distances he realizes that both the
parts was similarly worn out. Even in our life every decision has its own good
and bad consequences. We might think we care in a better position than the
other but it is not the reality.
The poet says that the two paths
looked similar that morning both were having leaves on it no one step on that
thus they were green, so he decided to move forward on one path and keep the
other for another day. Although he knew that he would not be able to return
back as one path would lead to another. This also happens in life we get a
chance to start over again if we fail that does not happen in reality.
The poet says that sometimes in the
future he will take a deep breath and tell that once in a lifetime he had to
take a tough decision. He was standing at a diversion of two roads both looked
to him equally well. Thus he decides to move forward on the road which fewer
people took as a result it has made him what he is today that decision shaped his
future.
Similarly in the future when we grow
up and then we have to say that once upon a time when you were in your youth,
you have to take tough decisions. The choice made by you had made you what you
are today. Thus the title of the poem “The Road Not Taken” gives a very strong
message to the people.
This poem also describes we have to
be careful in making decisions in life one should be very wise and careful
while making choices as our choices shape our future also once we make a
decision it is very difficult to change and start over again, one bad decision
could make us regret throughout the life. So all this depends on the choices we
make today.
Analysis
“The Road Not Taken” is one of the
Frost’s most popular works yet it is a frequently miss understood poem mostly
this poem reads as a poem that successful people follows their own path.
Actually it expresses some irony
regarding such an idea as Frost himself brought the poem as a joke for his
friend Edward Thomas, who was often indecisive about which Path to take when
they went walking. A New York Times book review states that “Whichever way they
go they are sure to miss something good on the path.”
In the last stanza the word ‘Sigh’
is mentioned in it may be seen as expression of regret or satisfaction .The
literary critic and Frost’s biographer Lawrence Thompson suggest that “The
poem’s narrator is one who habitually wastes energy in regretting any choices
that was made. Thomson also says that when the poem was introduced Frost would
say that the speaker was based on his friend Edward Thomas according to Frost
Thomas was a person who went on which ever road will regret the another one.
Conclusion
As a conclusion Frost wants to
convey to his readers that everyone should be careful in making decisions in
life, one should be very wise and careful while making choices as our choices
shapes our future and once we make decisions it is very difficult to change and
start again one bad decision could make us regret it throughout the life.
