The Road Not Taken: Poetic Composition on choices

The Road Not Taken                                          by Robert Frost 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 

In the poem, “The Road Not Taken,” Frost examines the consequential relationship between a decision which is made and the resultant effect it has on the future of an individual. The closing lines of  the work succinctly depict this consequential relationship where the narrator chooses the road “less traveled by” (19) and,  as a result, it “made all the difference” (20). Furthermore, the poet’s use of  the word “all” (20) skilfully captures the engulfing consequence that the narrator’s choice has on his future. Moreover, the speaker recognizes the finality of  the decision and doubts that he “should ever come back” (15) to that forked path.

Frost parallels the traveller’s decision to that of  an  average person who is uncertain about the future and has no clue what choice to make. The forked path which the narrator encounters is metaphorical. Frost compares two choices to a split road, and the “traveler” (3) must choose one path inorder to move onwards. However, there is no stark contrast between the two roads which are described as “really about the same” (10) and “equally” (11) covered with leaves. This precise diction validates the persona’s hesitation, especially since he cannot see past the “undergrowth” (5) at the bend. The confusion is intensified when both choices appear to have similar ends. Therefore, the extended metaphor candidly reflects the gradual stages of  hesitation, contemplation, impulsiveness and resolution which occur in decision-making. Furthermore, this comparasion also explores the final consequence of  decisions. The speaking voice in the poem is regretful since he is “sigh[ing]” (16) while reminiscing on the day he decided to take the road which was “less traveled by” (19).

The narrator ironically contradicts himself in the final stanza. He claims that to have taken the road which was “less traveled by” (19). However, according to previous stanzas the two roads were “really about the same” (10) and “equally” (11) covered with leaves. Further, he states that the road he took was “just as fair” (6) as the one he did not. It is ironic that the persona contradicts himself since he repeatedly assures readers that no difference could have been detected between the two roads. Additionally, to powerfully render a contrast between the narrator before and after making the choice, Frost uses irony. After living with the consequence of  the choice, the persona now believes that he took the harder road that few men take when faced with the same decision in the “yellow wood” (1).

Autumnal images such as “yellow wood” (1) and “lay/in leaves” (11-12) are highly symbolic. These images, the colour yellow in particular, represent the sorrowful emotional state and circumstances of  the persona at the time when he had to choose a road. As autumn is a season characterized by death in nature, likewise, the speaker is facing hard times resulting in the death of  his joy and happiness. He claims that he “stood” (3) for a “long” (3) time before the split road which suggests confusion. Furthermore,  he is forced to make a choice when his mind is clouded by depression and confusion. As a result, he is unable to differentiate between the roads which are seemingly “equally  lay in leaves” (11-12). Therefore, he is unable to make a wise choice. Here Frost subtly portrays the influence that emotions and circumstances have when making decisions. Furthermore, they serve as a prompt for the persona’s choice and ultimately his living with the consequence.

Choices and consequences are inevitably intertwined. Every choice has a subsequent consequence which affects the future in some way. Frost’s poetic composition, “The Road Not Taken”, is simply an aesthetic version of  the old proverb – “How you make your bed so you shall lie on it.”