From guest Reyhan Chaudhuri Q: what does this poem ‘ road not taken’ teach us?This is a poem by the Robert Frost,the American Poet.On the surface,it seems to be a simple poem about a man waking in the woods and takes the road lesser used or ‘less trodden’ path.Something that can happen to anyone on an ordinary walk.However,the whole poem (within it’s simplicity) has a deep metaphoric philosophy and significance.This is a poem that teaches us about about individuality and non-conformism. It is about not having a ‘herd mentality’ and to be able to think and decide for oneself-independently,regardless of the ways and customs of others.These choices, can make all the difference to our future.This poem brings to mind another great poem and song of an Indian poet-Rabindranath Tagore,who also wrote our national anthem!The poem that comes to mind is; Jyodi tore dakshone keyo na ashey,tauhe ekla chalo.That too (like this one)is a poem that teaches about self-reliance and not necessarily following where others have led or gone. From guest Shadowless I believe this poem is about how in life we are always making decisions (the two roads). Some decisions are easy enough but some are quite difficult. I think Robert named this poem 'The Road Not Taken' because it focuses more on the road not taken. Although they are both the same, according to what the protagonist sees, he/she still wonders what might have happened if they had happen to take the other path. I believe Robert Frost's message in this poem is that to never doubt and be content with the path you have chosen.
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Summary of “The Road Not Taken” Popularity: This poem was Written by Robert Frost and was published in 1961 as the first poem in the collection, Mountain Interval.The poem, having a perfect rhyme scheme, ‘ABAAB’ is an ambiguous poem that allows the readers to think about choices they make in life. Robert Frost wrote this poem for his friend Edward Thomas, as a joke. The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost Summary. The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost Summary. Prev Article. Get more Poetry Analysis like this in your inbox. Subscribe to our mailing list and get new poetry analysis updates straight to your inbox. Thank you for subscribing. Something went wrong.
To go back and travel the other path would take forever and as long as one lives, there will always be roads to take. That's what I believe. From guest DeepGirl If only we could take both paths.
This poem reflects the doubt we all face, did we make the right decision? Should we have followed a different path? We only question our decisions when our expectations are not met of ourselves or others. So although at the beginning Frost chooses the life path less taken, as if without expectation, he questioned whether it was the 'right' path, revealing a doubt in either self or his perceived outcomes. How can one know if the path chosen is 'right' without the actual experience? Frost concludes with no regrets, showing true wisdom and acceptance “and that has made all the difference.”. From guest sara j This is one of my favourite poems.I must say.
It taught me that i must think really hard before making any decision in life because once we make a decision then it can never changed. We have to live with it, forever may be. Everyone has to chose one path out of a hundered and its not at all an easy thing to do. Do whatever u like and whatever ur God wants u to do and never think of others whether they'll appreciate u or not.
Just keep one thing in mind that God is with u. As I read this poem again in light of recent comments I noticed that the poem is written as if the writer had just decided on which path to take and was actually looking FAR FORWARD in time (ages hence) to when he MIGHT look back and decide he had made the wrong choice.In other words no matter how careful he has been in making his choice he still believes it may not have been correct.I now think it is saying sometimes first choices (paths) are sometimes best.However that's only what I think.This links to what Frost himself thought. Looking at it literally, it's a poem of inspiration of course, a reflective look at how life is different for having taken the road less-traveled.
I guess it could also be seen as a wish to have taken the other.But I think there's an ironic tone, one that implies that which ever road is taken, you end up about the same. Notice both paths look similar, equally worn and leaf covered. So what difference is there?
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The difference comes in retrospect, in reflecting on that choice, what was Brando's line in 'On The Waterfront?' I could have been somebody.'
Maybe, but more likely that was his path and either one would have lead to where he ended. He writes, 'And sorry I could not travel both.' So the notion is already in his head, that wonder of the other path, not surprising that one day he reflected upon the other path.So in the poem the last part is ironic, the sigh and the notion that the path taken has made a difference.
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