The dilemma is of making the right and the rewarding choice. They stand for two directions, two attitudes and even two careers in life. How does the poet resolve the dilemma? Which road does he choose and why?Īnswer- The two roads represent two ways of life. It didn’t turn out to be quite a rewarding choice or option.Ħ. Sometimes after a long time, he will have to repent for choosing the path that was less travelled by. Whatever ‘road’ or way of life he chooses, it makes all the difference in his life. He suffers from an illusion that he can use the option he has left for the other day. What is the main problem or the dilemma of the poet?Īnswer- Robert Frost’s ‘The Road Not Taken’ revolves around the dilemma of making the right choice in life. The line 'Two roads diverged in' has been repeated here again.Īssonance: Repetition of 'a' sound in 'ages', 'and', and 'ages'.5. Repetition: The word 'ages' has been repeated twice in the second line. Likewise, our choices and options are what make us and shape our future. This decision of his has made all the difference in his life. The poet now looks back at the decision he made and with a sigh says that ages ago there were two roads which diverged in a wood, and he chose to take the one with the least amount of travellers. He says that they lay equal with none of the leaves turned black by the footsteps of a passerby.Įnjambment: Line 1 continues into line 2 without any punctuation. Imagery: The poet gives a beautiful description of both the roads that morning.

Repetition: The word 'way' has been repeated twice. We choose one option but wonder what it would be like to have chosen the other.Īlliteration: Repetition of 'f' sound in 'first' and 'for'. Sometimes in life, we are faced with a decision to make. Therefore, he doubts that he would ever be able to take the path which he left for another day. The poet knew that by choosing his desired path it would definitely lead further to another path. But since he journeyed down the chosen path, he kept the other road for another day. The leaves were fresh and had not been stepped on either road.

The poet says that the roads were similar. He says that one was grassy as there were hardly any travellers walking down that road. Imagery: The poet gives us a visual description of the two roads. Personification: The road here is personified as wanting humans to travel down its path.Įnjambment: Line 4 follows into line 5 without any punctuation mark. Simile: Both the roads have been compared to each other using the words 'as just as fair' Repetition of 'w' sound in 'wanted' and 'wear'. Both options have equal advantages and disadvantages.Īlliteration: Repetition of 'd' sound in 'then' and 'the'. In the same way, in life we may take a decision thinking it to be a better option, but the truth is that the grass isn't greener on the other side. Both the roads were worn out just the same. After taking the road, he realizes that the grassy road had been trodden on equally like the other road. It seems more appealing to him as it was grassy and thereby thinks it is the better option. The poet then decides to take the road which many people had not walked on. Metaphor: The road is a metaphor for the choices we make in life. Metaphor: The word undergrowth stands for the future into which the poet cannot see.Įnjambment: Lines 3, 4, and 5 have a continuous flow with any punctuation mark. The yellow wood also symbolises the ripe age at which the poet has to make decisions for himself.Ĭonsonance: Repetition of 'd' sound in the words 'roads', 'diverged' and 'wood'Īnaphora: Repetition of 'And' at the beginning of lines 2, 3, and 4. Symbolism: The road is a representation for the journey or the life choice that the poet makes. Similarly, we can compare this in our lives when we are facing a difficult decision to choose between two paths or options.Īssonance: There is a repetition of the 'o' sound in the words 'roads' and 'yellow'. So he stands and looks down one road as far as it bends in the undergrowth. Being a single traveler, he can take only one path. There are two paths that he now has to choose from. The poet has come to a diversion in the road.

The road not taken questions