Robert Frost's the Road Not Taken Term Paper

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Robert Frost's "The Road Not Taken" tells the story of a traveler making the decision to travel the road less traveled, but looking back upon the road not taken and wondering what might have been. On first glance the reader might assume that Frost is touting the benefits of taking the road less traveled, or the path in life that is perhaps most unclear. Too many people assume that the advantage lies in taken the road less traveled, and relate this poem to personal hardships endured by taking this path. However, it seems that Frost in actuality compares both roads in life as equally promising, and almost knocks the idea that the road less traveled is actually the better path. Mr. Frost comments on the tendency of humans to make decisions, but consistently reflect upon and consider or wonder what might have been.

From a strictly literal interpretation, Frost talks about having the courage to travel the road less taken, leaving the reader with the assumption that they can expand their horizons by taking risks and traveling the most different path. He indeed ends the poem with the idea that by taking the road less traveled, "a world of difference" has occurred in the life of the traveler.

However, more close examination of this poem reveals that Robert Frost describes both paths almost equal, or as the same. The title of the poem in fact, should lead the reader to consider the path that Frost does not take. The title emphasizes this path, because the traveler looks back upon this road, perhaps out of regret, perhaps out of curiosity, wondering what might have been, whether good or bad if this road were taken instead of the one selected.

ANALYSIS

Frost speaks symbolically of the endless possibilities that might never be encountered once an individual makes the decision to take a road, be it less traveled or not. Each road represents countless opportunities; man has the option to waste time and never make a decision, but in the poem Frost describes the choice he makes, and the chain of events that result from that decision.

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Frost claims that the road selected had "perhaps the better claim/because it was grassy and wanted wear." However, this may indicate only that the path selected was better because it appeared to want a traveler. Both paths were in fact, had been worn "really about the same/and both that morning equally lay."

Robert frost metaphorically implies that the road taken, whether less traveled or not will lead to something that will lead to another, in the stanza "yet knowing how way leads on to way." Though the opportunity may arise at some later date to take the other path, this outcome is unlikely, as Frost states "I doubted if I should ever come back." People make decisions about the here and now. Once a decision is made, very often one might wonder what could have been or might have been if they chose a different path (thus, the emphasis again on the road not taken."

At the end of the poem Frost describes "I shall be telling this with a sigh" and claims that he will tell people that he took the road less taken and that has "made all of the difference." This might be interpreted less literally however, and instead of meaning that by taking the road less traveled life is drastically improved, people often in fact "sigh" and wonder about the road not taken. The reader is left with a sort of solemn and empty….....

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