Title: The title leads me to believe

that the poem will be about a

difficult decision and straying from
what is considered the norm.
Paraphrase:
Two roads diverged in a yellow
wood,

Two paths split apart in an autumn forest,

And I regret that I was unable to journey both
And as one person on a journey, I stood for a while
And gazed down one path as far as I was able
To where the path was blocked by the foliage;

And sorry I could not travel both

And be one traveler, long I stood

Then I chose the road I didnt look down, as it was equal

in potential.

And looked down one as far as I

could

And this path may be better

To where it bent in the

undergrowth;

Because it looked overgrown like it hadnt been walked

in a while;
Though as for one path being more overgrown

Then took the other, as just as fair,

They were both about the same,

And having perhaps the better

claim,

And both paths that daybreak equivalently rest

Because it was grassy and wanted

wear;
Though as for that the passing
there
Had worn them really about the
same,

In leaves no foot has walked and tarnished.

Oh, I saved the first path for a further day!
Yet being aware of how each course leads to another
course,
I was uncertain if I would ever return.

And both that morning equally lay

I will be sharing this story with an exhalation

In leaves no step had trodden

black.

Some place a long time from now thus:

Oh, I kept the first for another day!

I chose the path less journeyed,

Yet knowing how way leads on to

way,

And that has generated all the distinction.

I doubted if I should ever come

back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence:

Two paths split apart in a forest, and I

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I

I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

Connotation:

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, A

And sorry I could not travel both B
And be one traveler, long I stood A
And looked down one as far as I could A
To where it bent in the undergrowth; B

Key:
Alliteration
Anadiplosis
Anaphora
Imagery
Assonance

Then took the other, as just as fair, C

And having perhaps the better claim, D
Because it was grassy and wanted wear; C
Though as for that the passing there C
Had worn them really about the same, D

Consonance
Rhyme Pattern

And both that morning equally lay E

In leaves no step had trodden black. F
Oh, I kept the first for another day! E
Yet knowing how way leads on to way, E
I doubted if I should ever come back. F
I shall be telling this with a sigh G
Somewhere ages and ages hence: H
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I G
I took the one less traveled by, G
And that has made all the difference. H
Connotation explained:
Alliteration: Frosts use of alliteration in the word wanted wear and first for
adds to the rhythm of the poem.

Anadiplosis: The beginning of the 19th line with the last word of the 18th line assists
in the flow of the poem. The emphasis placed on the I shows how Frost made a
choice not many did and highlights his singularity.
Anaphora: Frost begins the second, third, and fourth lines with the same word,
And. This unifies the three lines and Frosts retelling of his encounter with the two
roads.
Imagery: The imagery found throughout the poem aids the reader in picturing
Frosts journey. This gives the reader a clear mental picture of the decision Frost is
faced with and his lack of ability to see whats ahead as the path cant be viewed
past where it bent in the undergrowth. It also hints at the time of year as the
wood is yellow, leading to the assumption that it is fall. Imagery also aids in
describing the two paths. Frost views one as grassy and in need of wear,
meaning the path has not been taken in a while. Then once he starts his journey he
realizes that the two paths were basically the same. In leaves no step has trodden
black is used to describe both paths. This means that both roads had not been
journeyed that day, and both present equal opportunities. Frosts imagery presents
the audience with an image of the difficult decision he had make.
Assonance: The assonance throughout this poem helps give it its rhythm. When
read aloud one can truly hear the way the vowel signs unify each line they are
found in.
Consonance: The use of consonance provides rhythm, just as assonance does,
however consonance is with consonant sounds. None the less, it still serves as a
source of rhythm and beat for the poem.
Metaphor/Symbolism: The roads symbolize the decisions that faced the speaker
and the equality between them represents the opportunities that each decision
presents. The splitting of the two roads serves as a metaphor for the choices people
are forced to make in their life and how they are unable to predict their future. The
speaker attempts to look down each road as far as he can, but he is unable to see
what lies ahead, much like one cannot see the future. The choice in which path to
take ultimately effects ones life.
Attitude:
Frost presents the tone of reflective uncertainty and nostalgia in regards to his
decisions. He spends most of the poem looking back on his past decision,
describing, contemplating and comparing his choices, but once he finally comes to a
decision he shows doubt. He intended to save the other road for another day, yet
he realized that that day is unlikely to come and he doubted if [he] should ever
come back (lines 13-15). This shows how Frost longs to go back to that decision
and wishes he could have explored both paths. Frost states that he will be telling
this with a sigh, showing either the regret or relief he feels in making the decision
he did, which feeling depends on readers interpretation as Frost never truly clarifies
(line 16).

Shifts: Between lines 13 &14 Frost goes from optimism in regards to saving the first
for another day to realism in noting that there is little chance of him returning to
the exact path hes chose to leave behind. Between the third and fourth stanzas
Frost shifts from descriptive contemplation of the choices lying ahead of him to the
acceptance of the choice he finally makes.
Title: The title encompasses Frosts feeling of importance towards lifes decisions.
The Road Not Taken is referring to the road he left behind, the road he was unable
to journey and the missed opportunities it held.
Theme: For every choice made in life, there is always one left behind that could
have changed everything.
Theres always a road not taken and in this poem Frost is able to sum up the
uncertainties one feels when choosing a path, doubts felt about each choice made,
and the eventual acceptance of lifes hard decisions and the inability to travel both
roads. He is able to show how important each decision is as it makes all the
difference.
Point of view: First person as the narrator uses I. This allows the reader to
understand what the narrator is feeling and experiencing throughout the poem.