An Analysis of Tone in The Road Not Taken, a Poem by Robert Frost

Robert Frost’s perform The Road Not Taken conveys a quite simplistic, however introspective theme. The poem describes the dilemmas and alternatives 1 must make in life, and how those particular decisions impact that particular person. Frost establishes this theme with an allegorical illustration of two paths in the woods. Later in the poem, the author reveals the attributes and personality of the main character as he or she contemplates past life options. This characterization helps to bridge the gap amongst the reader and the character, enabling the poem to communicate a deeper resonance. Frost strengthens the reader’s figurative presence in the poem by presenting such emblematic diction and setting. The use of such devices once again aid to the connection amongst the reader and the character-forcing Frost’s message to turn into even much more insightful. Robert Frost portrays a really pensive and impactful tone in his poem The Road Not Taken by way of signifies of symbolic imagery, representative setting, thorough characterization, and powerful diction, in order to encourage the reader to reflect upon his or her own life options.

A single of the most important components of this poem is Frost’s use of imagery. In the opening lines of the poem, the main character stops at a forked path in the forest, pondering which path he or she will go. This component, becoming 1 of the most crucial, symbolizes a option needing to be made, most probably in life. Roads in literature typically correlate with travel or a migration from one particular spot to the next. So, the character’s consideration about which road to take reveals a self-reflection the character has about which path to go in life. Secondly, just before the character continues his or her journey, he or she notes that the end of the very first trail is covered by a sort of “undergrowth”, metaphorically indicating the perplexity of life and the inability to predict the consequence of life options. The poem unmistakably exhibits this analysis in the initial stanza, “Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, / And sorry I could not travel each / And be one traveler, extended I stood / And looked down a single as far as I could / To exactly where it bent in the undergrowth…” (lines 1-5). Additionally, it can be stated that Frost’s use of these figurative photos are centralized to exemplify his tone of self-reflection and cogitation, as they boldly depict the value of life style selection-creating.

An additional literary aspect Frost utilizes to express his tone is setting. In the poem, he writes, “Two roads diverged in a yellow wood…” (line 1). The phrase “a yellow wood” might be an indication of the color the trees radiated. This suggests that the story requires spot in the middle of autumn, most probably, contributing to the sense that time is operating out-as in life-for the character. Right here, Frost once again outlines his tone as he demonstrates the character’s rational contemplation and, at some point, regret. The author additional establishes the setting as he indicates that the paths were not worn, even stating that 1 was grassy, supplying a location of serenity and aesthetic beauty. This rendition of the setting applies a philosophical aspect to the poem, as it represents a life of innocence and potential. The forked trail could symbolize maturation and improvement, as the character is forced to decide on which path he or she wants to take his or her life. In the second stanza, it states, “Then took the other, as just as fair, / And possessing possibly the greater claim, / Due to the fact it was grassy and wanted wear…” (lines six-8). In this component of the poem, it practically appears as if the character foolishly expected life to desire him or her to enter it, as the poem suggests the grass wanted to be worn down. This is probably one particular of the causes why the character emotes regret later in the operate. Once more, 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 evidently seems conflicted all through the story as he or she faces a dilemma and at some point has mixed emotions when a single of the options had been selected. As the second stanza starts, the character states that he or she hastily chose the grassy trail which, according to the theme, is not wise. The author appears to recommend that the character is highly impulsive, while also adventurous, taking into consideration that he or she is wandering through the forest, virtually aimlessly. As the story progresses, even so, the character appears to be regretful of the option he or she has produced. For instance, as the character walks, he or she starts to look fearful that the opposite path might have been more alluring or aesthetic. This becomes evident in the third stanza, stating, “…And each that morning equally lay / In leaves no step had trodden black. Oh, I kept the very first for yet another day! But knowing how way leads on to way, / I doubted if I need to ever come back.” (lines 11-15). Understanding the character’s feelings once again strengthens the connection between the reader and the character, creating the author’s reflective tone and solemn message become even much more compelling.

The final figurative element Frost incorporates into the poem is diction. This becomes prominent in the final stanza, as it reveals the character’s regrets. “I shall be telling this with a sigh / Somewhere ages and ages therefore: / Two roads diverged in a wood, and I-/ I took the a single much less traveled by, / And that has made all the difference.” (lines 16-20). With use of the word “sigh”, Frost delineates the character’s dissatisfaction with his or her decision. In the conclusion of the poem, the character, realizing that he or she had created the wrong decision, suggests that if the other path had been taken, he or she would have made the better decision. This ties in with Frost’s tone as it is represented in the character’s regrets.

Robert Frost’s brief poem The Road Not Taken proves its literary merit by means of an intensely developed theme, as properly as tone. Frost organizes an exceedingly philosophical and contemplative piece, by way of use of several literary devices. One particular of the most eminent consist of metaphorical imagery, such as autumn, a forest, and paths. He further exemplifies the tone as he employs setting and characterization. With these instruments, the poem is able to appeal to the reader, as it seemingly enables an immersion into the text. Ultimately, the author’s application of diction contributes to what tends to make the text so captivating, as it lets the reader delve into the mind of the character. The poem The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost illustrates an insightful, yet regretful tone by way of use of setting, characterization, imagery, and diction, for the sole goal of making the reader conscious of the haste and intricacy of life.