About The Road Not Taken
The road not taken comes under the heading of a narrative poem composed by Robert Frost in 1915. It was published in The Atlantic Monthly. The poem comes in the opening of a collection called Mountain Interval. The road not taken poem is based on four stanzas, the rhyme scheme of this poem is ABAAB, and it is composed in iambic tetrameter.
Frost and his close friend Edward Thomas were taking a walk when they came across two paths. Thomas got uncertain about which way to take. This event inspired Robert Frost to compose The Road Not Taken. Thomas found himself deeply connected to it after Frost shared its first copy; Thomas took it personally.
Book Summary
The poem opens with the narrator, who stops while he is walking and starts considering which way to take, and then he takes the grassy one. And the reason he thinks the other road is worn and then on the second thought, he decides that he could take that road another day. However, he quickly realizes that he would hardly ever come to the yellow wood.
Finally, he heads toward the future and thinks about the consequence of his choice. There is no exaggeration in saying readers may study the poem on multiple levels. We may want to pay close attention to the metaphor it stands for. An interesting question arises, is this a poem about walking in the woods and coming up on two different optional paths?
No, it is not just that, but it is a poem about something deeper, more intense, and profound. Everything becomes clear when the reader reaches the poem’s final line. It reflects being a poem about choices. As the narrator reaches the fork of the road, he is met with two paths, and now he must decide which road to take.
One road is beaten down as many people have taken that road before him, and the other is overrun, and people have not taken that road, and he (the narrator) must choose which road to take. The narrator stands there still, thinks for a while, and decides he will take the one which the other people travel less. That is his decision. It is his choice.
The final part of the poem is interesting because we learn that the narrator speaks up and that his ultimate decision of taking the less traveled road makes a difference. A very similar choice is reflected in the Psalm of Life by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.
In the world’s broad field of battle,
In the bivouac of Life,
Be not like dumb, driven cattle!
Be a hero in the strife!
What is more important here is that the poet talks in the poem that a person is defined by his choices. And in the process of making a choice, only you (the decision maker) are responsible. The Road Not Taken is a symbol.
It’s a metaphor for the choices we make, or we have made, and it is rooted in our belief that sometimes it is best to go your way to make your own choice. Because who says one is better than the other, and it is not a matter of what is better over the other, but what you want to do. And the most critical part about this poem is that while making decisions, go your way as it defines who you are, and you have got to be pleased if your road takes you on a different path.
In several poems, Frost undercuts the conclusions that have become a cliché in modern culture and chooses the road less traveled. Another could be seen in Mending Walls. Likewise, “good neighbors make good fences,” the last line in the Road Not Taken, presages the concept of truism and not the truth. That is, the question of what makes the difference is not a matter of choosing the less traveled road.
The Road Not Taken Quotes
Some noteworthy quotes from The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost are:
“Two roads diverged in a wood, and I-
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.”“Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.”
Essay Structure on The Road Not Taken:
It is always important to learn the format for writing an essay. Our focus must be on the format of writing an essay, and then we will shift towards the tips which make an essay interesting and different from other essays.
Introduction:
To begin with, always remember that no one wants to connect with an unknown person unless they have a formal introduction. The same goes for essays. No reader will understand the theme of the essay if you miss the introduction.
There are many techniques for writing the introduction. Some people like starting with a little anecdote and moving toward the point. Some people create suspense to create a curiosity in the readers’ minds and engage them in reading it more.
Body
Once the topic is introduced, you want to further enlighten the reader with the content you wish to discuss in detail. Always be careful and ensure the body of your essay must contain at least three paragraphs, and each paragraph must have one theme discussed at a time, which implies that every paragraph must have a different topic.
All these paragraphs must have a topic sentence and supporting details in the form of a reference quote, a critique, or facts and figures. Finally, it is important to add a line that maintains the fluency or connectivity of the ideas and how smoothly it shifts from one paragraph. A good number of transitional devices will help you the most in writing an essay with maximum engaging the readers.
Conclusion:
You would never want to end your conversation abruptly because it will not leave a lasting effect you wish to create. Even while reading an essay without any conclusion, it will feel like something is missing or the essay is not finished yet.
It is important to write a brief conclusion at the end of the essay in which all the major points are shortly discussed. The thesis statement is reinforced. It could be open-ended, where the considerable room is left for the reader to think of their interpretations, or it could be that the writer concludes with his ideas and wind up the essay.
6 Tips to Consider While Writing an Essay About The Road Not Taken:
Writing is a skill that can be polished by studying and exploring. Many self-help books on writing skills chant the years-old mantra which is highlighted under:
Read The Poem Thoroughly
It is very important to know about the topic of the essay. It is equally crucial to understand and plan on the content because your essay’s topic will enable you to decide which tools are needed for writing an essay, be it narrative, descriptive, argumentative compare and contrast essays. It is a good idea to know the text beforehand.
Find A Compelling Topic
Choosing a topic that drives you to keep researching and learning about it is wise. It motivates you to express yourself fully in your work. Your topic could be general, but it is always advised to narrow down your topic to a specific one, so the reader is not distracted while reading, and the ideas are not scattered; rather, they are very specified in that sense.
Create The Outline
A writer’s best practice in writing is, mapping his ideas on a paper. It creates an outline for them to jot down what comes to mind. It also enables them to decide in arranging their ideas sequentially, keep the needs of the one and discard the remaining ideas. The road not taken analysis can help you craft the outline of your essay in this case.
Write the Thesis Statement
Your thesis statement comes directly from the topic of your essay. When you are clear about your thesis statement, you are on track and likely to generate an impressive essay relevant to the topic.
Include A Moral Or Lesson
Didacticism leaves a lasting impact on the readers’ minds; hence, it is a good tip to write an impressive essay by adding a moral or a lesson. It will create a powerful impact on the essay as well.
Conclusion: Proofread Your Work
It’s great practice to wind up your essay by restating the thesis stamen and briefly discussing your essay’s main points. As is already discussed, if you end your essay without proper closure, it will not seem complete. Therefore, the conclusion of your essay is important to let the reader connect back to the points discussed earlier in detail.
Suppose you wish to write a compelling essay. Please leave it to us; we can write it for you faster and better. Also, we can guide you on how to write an essay quickly and perfectly!
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is The Real Meaning Of The Road Not Taken?
The poem is a metaphor for our everyday experience of indecisive nature where we cannot decide which path to choose. And that people do not see what their destination is. What does fate have in store for them?
What Is The Message Of A Road Not Taken?
The road not taken has a very powerful message for the readers. The poem mainly tells us that our choices define us, and it should be us deciding the right choices for us.
What Is The Summary Of The Road Not Taken?
The poem has a personal touch. It mirrors the indecisiveness of humans in choosing which road they wish to take. The narrator decides to walk on the road less treaded and reflects upon his right decision.
