Robert Frost: Poetry Analysis, Essay Example

The Road not Taken – Robert Frost

Frost has narrated a compelling poem that can relate to every one of us.  In life we have to make important decisions and on occasions we have to make a choice and stick by the decision made for better or worse.  Hence the journey of life is about series of decisions and we make them. In this case Frost picked the road less travelled; he followed his instincts in terms of not taking the popular route. He took the road less travelled.  At a later date you reflect upon your choice and decisions knowing that the route you followed made a difference to your life, either for better or worse.

Frost also alludes to the concept of wisdom.  A young person makes more impulsive decisions and part of the growing process is learning from the decisions made.  An older person has wisdom and reflects on past decisions and the catalogue of experiences derived from them. This in turn provides greater knowledge and wisdom in future decisions. It can also bring in the concept of remorse or regret where you took the wrong path and as such could never return or create the more desired circumstances again.

Stopping by woods on a snowy evening – Robert Frost

This is an extremely evocative poem where Frost describes the importance of responsibility over pleasure. The desire to stop, rest,and enjoy familiar surroundings but there are responsibilities to self and others that mean we must trudge on regardless.  We all are faced with intervals in our lives whereby we have to carry on regardless of the burdens these places upon us.  There is also the implication of death – miles to go before I sleep– there are so many more responsibilities and tasks to achieve in life before I can finally relax and rest.  The poem is however more associated with the journey of life.  The deep meaning that life is a journey of intermittent stops to the point of death where the journey continues in the cycle of life eternal. (Fagan, D.J. 2007)

Works Cited

Fagan, D. J. (2007). Critical companion to Robert Frost: a literary reference to his life and work. New York: Infobase Publishing.