“The Road Not Taken”

ENG125- Introduction into Literature

October 21, 2013

The literary piece I have chosen to analyze is called “The Road Not Traveled “by Robert Frost (1916).This poem is most frequently referenced in public speeches and personal achievements. The theme of this poem is choices. The speaker approaches two roads in the yellow woods and is faced with a decision to make regarding which road to travel. In this paper I will explain the narrative theme and how it associates with the journey of life. Life is full of choices and decisions and this poem describes exactly that.
The theme is described as a representation of the idea behind the story. In chapter seven of the text it states that to identify with a story’s theme it is best to look beyond the plot. The plot tells what happens in the story, but the theme tells what the story is about. (Augen125.10.2). the theme of this poem is based on the right choice as to which road the speaker will choice to take and in his decision be able to agree that this was the best fit for him. Through the descriptive word choice that Frost uses, he takes us on a journey through decision making. In lines 1-6 Frost expresses “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.” I believe that Frost uses the yellow woods to represent the journey of life. I think that when the character expresses the importance of only being one person he can only travel one road at a time. He is expressing his concerns of doing something one step at a time. The decision he is faced with represents life changes giving him the ability to seek which road will work better for him.
In lines (7-11) “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.” He analyzes both roads in front of him and chooses to take the road less traveled. The description of the grassy and wanted wear represents that both paths had wear on them but the one that had less footprints won over the one that deep in prints. He sees it as an opportunity to take a risk. The risk allows the character to compare which of the two roads has the better opportunity. Which in the end of the poem he was most pleased with.
The character in this poem is battling with a life changing decision that can ultimately change the outcome of his life. The character expresses his concerns in the poem regarding the