The Road Not Taken - Robert Frost

Theme:

The main theme of the poem is making the right decisions at the right time. It offers a
profound perception of decision making. The traveller comes across a path that was
diverging into two and he was in a dilemma regarding which path to choose. This hides a
deep meaning behind it. It suggests that sometimes in life, we have to make decisions
without the full knowledge and understanding of the state of affairs. But it is also necessary
to consider all the available options and make an appropriate choice.
The choice at the crucial moment determines and changes the path of our lives. Hence, the
poem focuses on a deep analysis of the situation before we arrive at a decision.

Message:

Robert tries to convey a message that we should not follow the masses; just because lot of
people took one option, you shouldn't do the same. It worth trying something new that others
hesitate to and take a risk every once in a while. We all have just a single life and hence it is
important to weigh the options and take a wise decision. It is equally important to stand by
our decisions in life since it is not easy to go back every time.

I. Extract based questions:

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,

And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveller, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
1. Why did the traveller feel sad about not being able to go down both paths in the
forest?
2. The phrase “And sorry I could not travel both” implies that the traveller was
experiencing a feeling of _____.
a) regret
b) embarrassment
c) uncertainty
d) amusement
3. What does “where it bent in the undergrowth” suggest?
4. Pick out the literary devices used in the stanza.

II. Answer the following questions briefly:

1. Where does the traveller find himself? What problems does he face?
2. Discuss what these phrases mean to you:
a) It was grassy and wanted wear
b) leaves no step had trodden black
III. Answer the following in about 100-120 words:
Bring out the contrast and similarities between the two roads mentioned in the poem.
How far is it relevant to one’s life?

Literary Devices

1. Alliteration: Wanted Wear ‘w’ sound is repeating

‘first for’ – ‘f’ sound is repeating
‘though, that’- ‘th’ sound is repeating

2. Anaphora: ‘and’ repeated at the beginning of lines 2, 3 and 4

3. Repetition: ‘Ages’ is repeated.

4. Symbolism: two roads that represent two or more choices in our life.