Blog 1 Poetry 4-14

"The Road Not Taken" by Robert Frost is an American classic in poetry. Robert Frost is an extremely notable poet, and "The Road Not Taken" is one of his most famous works. His use of sound, hidden messages, deception, mystery, and visual pictures painted through his word choice in this poem are some of the many things that make his writing appealing. In furthering examination of this poem, and reading thoroughly, I've come up with some different insights for "The Road Not Taken" that I previously have not had.


The rhyme scheme of this poem is ABAAB. This break up of the "B" is subtle; the overpowering repetition of the "A" back to back, makes this poem have rhythm and hides flow of the "B." However, you can feel how the second and last line of each stanza are connected because of the end rhyme. Each line has 9 syllables, and this adds to the flow of the poem.  Frost uses enjambment throughout the poem to give it a consistency. The poem flows with little breaks or pauses. Each line goes into the next with ease.


"The Road Not Taken" used to mean to me, what most people think. Before reading it thoroughly, I thought that the road less traveled was chosen because the protagonist knew the path would be more challenging. However, stanza 2 talks about both paths being about the same:

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,

Frost is comparing the two roads.  The second stanza says maybe one path had been more taken because of the "better claim." However, the protagonist is still unsure where either one leads. He has no way of knowing what path is challenging. 


In stanza 3, the last 3 lines are the most sought out in the entire poem: 

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference.

These three lines have become universal. When you hear them, you automatically think the path chosen made a significant impact on the protagonist's life. I believe it is natural to think this way because the last three lines are what really stick in your mind because they are of significant meaning to the poem, and they are strategically placed at the end to create confusion.  You may think that the poet became more successful or achieved a great journey because of his decision to take the road less traveled, but there is no way of being sure. You can make the assumption because poetry is up to interpretation, but when taking the other lines into consideration I think the protagonist chose the path less traveled on a whim in the moment.

I doubted if I should ever come back.

--
I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence:

These three lines are placed directly in front of the poems last three lines, and they show a past reference to the woods. This shows that the protagonist is reflecting his experiences prior to the last three lines of the poem. From this analysis I think the last three lines are referring to later in the protagonist's life as he is looking back maybe in regret. The title can also add to the feeling of regret "The Road Not Taken. " instead of the title being The Road Less Traveled which would convey feelings of bravery and hope. I think Frost wants to show us that the protagonist's wished to travel down both roads.