Final answer:
Both "The Journey" and "The Road Not Taken" reflect on personal choice in life's journey, but differ in tone and outcome, with the former ending confidently and the latter contemplatively.
Step-by-step explanation:
One similarity between "The Journey" and "The Road Not Taken" is that both poems explore the theme of personal choice and the journey of life. In both cases, the protagonists are faced with a decision that requires contemplation and will have a significant impact on their life's path. "The Road Not Taken" by Robert Frost presents this through the metaphor of a traveler choosing between two diverging roads in a yellow wood, while "The Journey" by Mary Oliver depicts an individual's decision to break away from others' expectations and forge their own path.
However, a prominent difference between the two poems lies in the tone and outcome of the decisions made. Frost's poem conveys a sense of uncertainty and reflection upon the choice, with the famous closing lines "I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference," suggesting a contemplative yet ambiguous outcome. In contrast, Oliver's "The Journey" ends on a note of empowerment and certainty, as the speaker acknowledges the difficulty of the journey but ultimately celebrates the act of taking control over one's life, asserting, "you knew what you had to do" and "you strode deeper and deeper into the world."
This contrast in outcomes highlights the different perspectives on the weight and consequences of personal choices, with "The Road Not Taken" leaving the reader to ponder the roads not traveled, while "The Journey" emphasises the importance and triumph of the road taken despite hardship.