Poem Analysis

Poem Analysis

  • Submitted By: sammiip
  • Date Submitted: 10/06/2013 3:50 PM
  • Category: English
  • Words: 528
  • Page: 3
  • Views: 125

The Road Not Taken
By Robert Frost

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;

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,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way
I doubted if I should ever come back.

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.
Subject: Choice
Theme: Dreams, Plan, Hope, Decision
Thesis: People need to make choices and decisions in their life.
Literary Devices:
1) Metaphor- The whole poem is a metaphor since the poet used “the road” to imply “choice” in his life.
2) Imagery- Two roads diverged in a yellow wood ( from the first stanza);
And both that morning equally lay in leaves no step had trodden black (from the third stanza) - in order to create a picture in the reader's mind. The quote gives an image to the reader on what is current situation of this traveler and helps you visualize what is going on.
3) Onomatopoeia- I shall be telling this with a sigh (from the last stanza), emphasizes the traveler depression/sadness for the outcome of the decision he made.
4) Symbolism- The two roads are symbolizing the choices that given to us.
5) Personification- "because it was grassy and wanted wear" (from the second stanza)
6) Alliteration- Wanted wear (from the second stanza)
7) Repetition- Somewhere ages and ages hence (from the third stanza); And sorry I could not travel both, and be one traveler long I stood and looked down one as far as I could (from the first stanza); Two roads diverged in a wood and...

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