When reading “The Road Not Taken,” by Robert Frost, I found that it was personal, especially to the author. The fact that it was written in first person form helped me to conclude that it was probably about the author. I think the reasoning behind his writing of this poem was because in life, you have many obstacles to overcome and many choices and decisions to make, which opens a path that leads the way to your future. Since those things relate to Frost, I think it motivated him to write this poem on a personal basis, like a short autobiography on his life.
It motivated him because he could then tell others about his life and give advice and guidance to the people that read his poetry. “The Road Not Taken” basically talks about the many obstacles in life, the choices and decisions that you have to make, and how the things you choose affects everything in your life and in your future. Frost also tells how he chose a path or a road, that even though was odd or different from everyone else’s, he went on with his instincts and decided that it was the right choice. He tells how one single decision in life can make huge or drastic differences being either good or bad.
This was expressed when he said “Two roads diverged in a wood, and I – I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference. ” I found that throughout this poem there was much symbolism within it. Identifying that it was written in first person form showed that this poem relates to the author on a personal basis, and that it was probably written to symbolize his life. But when talking about people’s lives, you can conclude that people’s lives are generally and individually very different from everyone else’s lives, or at least seems to be because nobody’s life can ever be the same as another person’s.
The thing that always holds true though, is that the major issues people’s lives are always ironically similar to each other or, at least can relate to them in many ways. Therefore, I found that this poem not only symbolizes or relates to the author, but it also symbolizes or holds true to almost everybody’s lives. One of the major symbols within this poem is the roads. When he says “Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,” he is using the roads to symbolize the paths, choices, and decisions that he has to make in his life.
Those decisions guide the way to his future, because when you come to a two way street or road you have to decide or make a choice on which path to take. Also when he says “And sorry I could not travel both And be on traveler,” he is telling us how he is insecure on which road to take because he is unsure of what’s ahead and would like to travel both roads to come up with a conclusion or a decision on the correct road to take. So overall, what road basically symbolizes in this poem is the options that he has in his life and the decisions that he has to make.
Another symbol in this poem is the many observations that he makes. When he says “long I stood And looked down one as far as I could To where it bent in the undergrowth,” he is using his observations to symbolize the brainstorming, analyzing, and thinking you have to do before or ahead of time when you are offered two options in your life and only one path to take. He is telling us how we, the people always have to do those things first, to guarantee or insure that your decision is safe.
Because who doesn’t want the best for themselves? The title “The Road Not Taken” relates to the poem in many ways because the poem is basically about a road not taken. It’s about a person who is confronted with two options to choose from, a split road. Never really knowing the correct road to take the person chooses one path or road after analyzing the other. He is sure and goes on from gut instincts and picks a path moving on with a strong will and a lot confidence, leaving the other road behind untouched.
This poem relates to me in many ways because in my life, I was offered many options to choose from and many roads to take. Since it’s my life and my decisions to make, I never regretted a decision I made, I just look at it as, that’s the way it was meant to be. Sure, the decisions weren’t always easy to make, but when you put your mind to it, think, brainstorm, and analyze a little the correct path or road usually will light up and give you guidance. I’m not saying that all my decisions were correct, they where not at all. I’m just saying that when you tried your best it never hurts.