The Road Not Taken is one of Frosts most appreciated poems. Robert Frost’s poems may appear simple, but he was a poet with deep thoughts, behind the descriptions of nature and everyday activities, one can find a deeper meaning. He was a poet of ironic insight, and his poems are profound in thought. Though Robert Frost was referred to as a nature poet, frost disliked this label because he usually included people in his poetry. Frost’s poetry is known for its pastoral setting. He hailed from New England, or aspects of New England environment feature in his poem. Yet, there is an edgy and critical commentary on human life lurking in many of his poems.
The poem The Road Not Taken is written by frost to question human minds, to regard their decisions and to realize the truth about life. How decision making affects ones lives… the “Yellow wood” shows us either the season- which would be autumn or the age of a person, graduating from middle age to old age...again the aspect of ambiguity is brought about. In this poem frost in a subtle way tells the reader, in life you will face many a time where you will have to come up with a decision, and at that when you are making this decision you will find yourself standing alone,” I took the road less travelled by-And that has made all the difference.” In this line he comments that he decided to choose a different path in life, not many had taken…it may have been a difficult path but he thought this was the path that would take him where he is, and he was different and by being different he says he has made a mark… this poem is trying to bring into the readers mind a change, it is playing human tendencies to follow the footsteps of the other, and the line “ and both that morning equally lay in leaves no step had trodden black” – this
Line tells us that on that day no was taking that road, as no leaves had been stepped upon. Frost leaves the reader to take the poem in their own personal way, by no laying any strict impositions.
The Road Not Taken- the title of the poem may suggests several interpretations, suggesting layers of ambiguity and irony. This title can mean “the road he took, which many people didn’t dare tread on”, or “the road he did not take.” This leave the readers mind in a doubtful state of mind, and Frost makes the reader to think leaving an open question, and not imposing any ideas. It questions the readers mind as to why did the person not take that road….what road is Frost talking about? Is it the journey in life? Or is just a road not taken by someone going on a journey, this is the literal interpretation. The irony in this, is that the road not taken is the very thing that bringing about the decision.
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