Robert Frost's work The Road Not Taken conveys a very simplistic, yet introspective theme. The poem describes the dilemmas and choices one must make in life and how those specific decisions affect that person. Frost establishes this theme with an allegorical illustration of two paths in the woods. Later in the poem, the author reveals the main character's attributes and personality as he contemplates past life choices. This characterization helps bridge the gap between the reader and the character, allowing the poem to communicate a deeper resonance. Frost reinforces the reader's figurative presence in the poem by presenting such emblematic diction and setting. The use of such devices once again helps the connection between the reader and the character, forcing Frost's message to become even more insightful. Robert Frost portrays a very thoughtful and impactful tone in his poem The Road Not Taken through symbolic imagery, representative settings, in-depth characterization, and powerful diction, in order to encourage the reader to reflect on their own life choices. to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay The poem shows readers that there are millions of decisions we have to make in life and sometimes there are choices that are best left to chance and realized and that sometimes regret is inevitable. “Then he took the other, as equally just, and having perhaps the better claim” is a quote where we can say that he thought a lot about this decision. We discover over the course of the poem that there are two paths to follow, but the traveler, who we assume is Robert Frost, is not sure which to take. We find that this is a life-changing decision, not simply a choice between two mediocre options. Towards the conclusion the tone changes dramatically from indecisive to regretful. The poet sighs and speaks in a sad tone about a period of his life. And I think the tone of sadness is appropriate for such a poem, as seen from some of the poet's phrases and phrases, such as "And I'm sorry we can't both travel", "I doubted whether I should ever return", "I will tell with a sigh", and so on. The speaker further talks about a characteristic of human nature. The poem is written in the first person and uses the pronoun "I" to personalize its meaning as a means of conveying the idea that the reader has direct access to the poet's thoughts and feelings. One of the most significant elements of this poem is Frost's use of imagery. In the first lines of the poem, the main character stands on a forked path in the forest, pondering which direction he will go. This part, being one of the most vital, symbolizes a choice to be made, most likely in life. Roads in literature are often related to travel or migration from one place to another. Thus, the character's consideration of which path to take reveals a self-reflection the character has regarding which direction to take in life. Secondly, before the character continues his journey, he notices that the end of the first path is covered by a sort of "undergrowth", which metaphorically indicates the perplexity of life and the inability to foresee the consequences of existential choices. The poem unmistakably displays this analysis in the first stanza: “Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, / And I regret that I cannot walk both / And be a traveler, long I stood / And looked one as far as I could / To where it bent in the undergrowth...” (lines 1-5). Furthermore, it can be said that the use of these figurative images asideby Frost is centralized to exemplify his tone of self-reflection and reflection, as they boldly describe the importance of lifestyle decision-making. Another literary aspect that Frost uses to express his tone is setting. In the poem he writes: “Two roads diverged in a yellow forest…” (line 1). The phrase “yellow wood” may be an indication of the color radiated from the trees. This suggests that the story takes place in the middle of autumn, most likely, contributing to the sense that time is running out, as in life, for the character. Here, Frost again outlines his tone as he demonstrates the character's rational contemplation and, ultimately, regret. The author further defines the setting as he indicates that the paths were not worn, even stating that one was grassy, ​​providing a place of serenity and aesthetic beauty. This interpretation of the setting applies a philosophical aspect to the poem, as it represents a life of innocence and potential. The forked path could symbolize maturation and development, as the character is forced to choose which direction they want to take in their life. In the second stanza, it states, “Then he took the other, equally fair, / And having perhaps the better claim, / For it was grassy and wanted to be worn…” (lines 6-8). In this part of the poem, it almost seems as if the character was foolishly expecting life to want him or her to enter into it, as the poem suggests that the grass wanted to be consumed. This is probably one of the reasons why the character elicits remorse later in the work. Once again, Frost communicates his solemn and contemplative tone by familiarizing the reader with the character's experiences. Frost draws the reader into the story as he characterizes the man or woman standing in the woods. The character appears evidently conflicted throughout the story as he faces a dilemma and ultimately experiences mixed emotions when one of the options is chosen. At the beginning of the second stanza, the character states that he hastily chose the grassy path which, according to the theme, is unwise. The author seems to suggest that the character is very impulsive, but also adventurous, considering that he wanders through the forest, almost aimlessly. As the story progresses, however, the character seems to regret the choice he made. For example, as the character walks, he begins to seem fearful that the opposite path may have been more appealing or aesthetic. This becomes evident in the third stanza, stating: “…And both that morning lay equally / In the leaves no step had trodden the black. Oh, I saved the first one for another day! Yet, knowing how one road leads to another, / I doubted I would ever return.” (lines 11-15). Understanding the character's feelings once again strengthens the relationship between the reader and the character, making the author's thoughtful tone and solemn message even more compelling. The final figurative element that Frost incorporates into the poem is diction. This becomes evident in the final stanza, as it reveals the character's regrets. “I will say this with a sigh / Somewhere between ages and ages: / Two roads diverged in a wood, and I-/ I took the one less traveled by, / And that made all the difference.” (lines 16-20). With the use of the word “sigh,” Frost outlines the character's dissatisfaction with his choice. In the poem's conclusion, the character, realizing that he has made the wrong choice, suggests that if the other path had been taken, he would have made the better choice. This ties into Frost's tone as depicted in the character's regrets. Please note: this is just an example. Get a customized document from our writers now.