Robert Frost Road Not Taken is a poem of non-conformity


The poem by Robert Frost, the Road not Taken, is about individuality and non-conformity.   The poem outlines the choices people make in life, using an extended metaphor.
Robert Frost’s poem was written about his friend who went to war, “One stanza of 'The Road Not Taken' was written while I was sitting on a sofa in the middle of England: Was found three or four years later, and I couldn't bear not to finish it. I wasn't thinking about myself there, but about a friend who had gone off to war, a person who, whichever road he went, would be sorry he didn't go the other. He was hard on himself that way" – Robert Frost, Bread Loaf Writers' Conference, 23 Aug. 1953.
The poem was highlighting some of the bad choices his friend had made and showing how to make the right choices. “two roads diverged in a wood, and I -- I took the one less travelled by, And that has made all the difference.” This shows that Robert Frost advises his friend to not conform to others, but to make his own choices.
Robert Frost is claiming his life is better because he does not conform to others when he makes his decisions, “and I -- I took the one less travelled by, and that has made all the difference”.
The traveller is hesitant about which route to take, and is sad to miss out on one road, “And sorry I could not travel both”, “I shall be telling this with a sigh”, he wants to take both roads, but knows he can only take one, and he will probably never return to the fork in the road. Robert Frost knew it was unlikely for him to be able change his mind, “I doubted if I should ever come back.”
The traveller is hesitant and takes some time to make the decision, “long I stood, and looked down one as far as I could”. It is clearly a hard choice to make
The road less travelled is described as “grassy and wanting wear”. Robert Frost is using personification in this stanza, making the road appear have thoughts like a person.
The two roads in a forest is an extended metaphor, which represents the choices in live. It is accurate because it is not physically possible to travel both roads, and it is hard to change your mind, and go back.
The poem also uses a rhyming scheme of abaab. The rhyme adds more emotion to the poem; it makes the poem feel structured right from start to end.
The message about non-conformity is often quoted and promotes though for the choices made in life.   The poem’s use of techniques including rhyme, metaphors, and personification are well structured. The poem’s meaning has made it famous.






Comments

  1. Anonymous15 February 2012 at 00:52

    No offense, but what you have written about in your 'analysis' doesn't support the idea that this poem is about non-conformity.

    ReplyDelete

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