Rantings of a Queer Pagan

English Journal Assignment 4

THE ROAD NOT TAKEN

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;

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,

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.

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.

-Robert Frost

Robert uses imagery extensively throughout this poem. Images such as “Two roads diverged in a yellow wood”, and “In leaves no step had trodden black” are some of my favourites.

The first, “Two roads diverged in a yellow wood” conjures an image of path that forks in a wood succumbing to fall. The situation of the poem is that in which the narrator has to make a choice between which fork to take. The imagery of the first line suggest that there is no particular pressure to make a choice, that in fact, the narrator may choose any which direction he wish, but he should do so soon, as the leaves have turned and the journey on this path has come to an end. It illustrates a transition between seasons as well as directions, which speaks to the deeper meaning of the poem and ads to it a greater weight.

The second, “In leaves no step had trodden black” brings to mind a path covered in newly fallen leaves, relatively undisturbed. This again adds to the serene nature of the poems imagery. Those few who have traveled before have done so light footed and thereby light hearted as the leaves have not been mushed into the ground and spoiled. It also goes to the idea that these paths have not been well traversed to begin with and offer themselves invitingly to make his mark on them.

In short, each carefully crafted phrase builds upon the last by drawing the reader deeper and deeper into the unassuming woods of the narrators life, all the while making it more serene, tranquil, unassuming, and critical of a junction to be explored.

posted by Kasper @ 02:11