BY ROBERT FROST

Analysis by Ahmed Naveed

‘The Road Not Taken’ by Robert Frost is quite a celebrated poem; unfortunately, its popularity comes predominantly from the simple act of misreading. With this poem, Frost has offered the world a piece of writing that everyone can relate to, especially regarding the concept of choices and opportunities in life.

This poem is often quoted and used with many illustrations and symbolism. The popular belief is that Frost meant for this poem to be about hope, success, and defying the odds by choosing a path well, “less travelled by.” On the other hand, if the poem is reviewed, it is pretty evident that it has a reasonably opposite connotation. However, almost all poem interpretations have been popular among readers.

It is Robert Frost’s first poem in his book “Mountain Interval” (1916). A well-known, pleasantly misconstrued poem since its release, its plainness and way with words demonstrate the skill of Frost’s pen.

“The Road Not Taken” is a poem that argues for the significance of our extensive and small choices since they shape our journey through life. For Frost, the most consequential decisions we make aren’t the ones we spend much time thinking about, like who we have relationships with, when we go to work, or what our future careers should be. Instead, Frost’s poem asserts that the small choices we make every day also have significant impacts on our lives. Each decision sets us on a path we may not understand the importance of until much later. 

This theme is reflected throughout the poem. For instance, the poem begins with a speaker placing us in a scene, specifically when two roads break from each other in the middle of a “yellow wood.”

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.