The Road Not Taken

Poem by Robert Frost Originally Published In 1916

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; 5

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, 10

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. 15

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. 20

1. What is the denotation of the word “diverged” in line 1? (Denotation is the literal
or primary meaning of a word).

The denotation of the word “diverged” is split or go separate ways

2. Fill in the blank: In the words “I shall be telling this with a sigh” (line 16), the word
“sigh” indicates a feeling of ___________________________ on the part of the
speaker.

This indicates a feeling of defeat because the speaker can’t take both roads
3. Note 2 similarities and 2 differences between the two roads, as expressed in the
words of the poem. Place quotation marks around the evidence or direct quotes
from the poem.

4. Write THREE sentences in which you explain the purpose and effect of the
poet’s use of the words “yellow wood” (line 1) to describe the scene:

5. In two or three paragraphs, write about a time in your life when you made a
choice but always wondered what your life would have been like if you had
chosen the alternative. Incorporate three words or phrases from the poem that
help connect Frost’s experience with your own. Please use the next page (essay
paper) to write your response.