Question

Read the poem below and answer the question that follows.

"The Road Not Taken"
by Robert Frost

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

Source: Frost, Robert. "The Road Not Taken." Poets.org. Academy of American Poets, n.d. Web. 4 Apr. 2011.



How would a formal interpretation differ from a biographical interpretation of this poem? Explain how you would interpret this poem from either theoretical point of view.

Answer 1

The poem 'The Road Not Taken' can be interpreted formally or biographically. A formal interpretation examines it as a work of literature, focusing on metaphor and theme. A biographical interpretation considers the poet's life and experiences, relating the choices to Frost's own love of nature and individualism.

Step-by-step explanation:

The poem "The Road Not Taken" by Robert Frost presents the theme of choices and their consequences in life. A formal interpretation of the poem would focus on the literary elements such as metaphor, themes, and structure, without considering the author's personal life or experiences. Here, the roads represent choices, and the choice made 'has made all the difference,' indicating that our decisions shape our life's journey.

On the other hand, a biographical interpretation would relate the choices depicted in the poem to Frost's own life, his love for nature, and his personal experiences. It might consider the poet's time in New England and how its landscapes influenced his work, thus bringing a more personal understanding to lines like 'Two roads diverged in a yellow wood.'

From a formal standpoint, the poem's key metaphors are the "roads" and "the traveler," symbolizing life's choices and the individual making them, respectively. References to Frost's love of nature are evident in the vivid depiction of the "yellow wood" and the "leaves no step had trodden black." The line "I took the one less traveled by" implies that the speaker chose a less conventional or more difficult path, thereby setting themselves apart from others, which highlights the significance of individual choices.

Answer 2

Its a whole family of supers!