Diction in "THE ROAD NOT TAKEN" by Robert Frost
Robert Frost's "THE ROAD NOT TAKEN" talks about the everyday choices that one makes while traveling down the road of life. In the first stanza the speaker introduces the poem by saying "Two roads diverged in a yellow wood"This is interesting because it is suggests that there are two "actual" roads, as opposed to figurative roads. Then the speaker goes on to say "And sorry I could not travel both"This is one of the most powerful lines in the poem; because no matter whom the reader is they will relate to the feeling of regret, and sadness over a missed opportunity. When one reads something that they are able to connect with the piece of work then becomes that much more meaningful.
"And be one traveler, long I stood And looked down one as far as I could To where it bent in the undergrowth". These last three lines in the first stanza are almost comical, because they paint such a clear picture of human nature. You as a reader can actually see yourself standing at the cross roads of life; trying to foresee what obstacles and opportunities you will have, as a result of the decision you are being forced to make. But try though you may, you will never really know for certain what the outcome of your decisions will be.
In the forth and fifth line of the third stanza the speaker says "Yet knowing how way, leads on to way I doubted if I should ever come back". This line verbalizes a sense of nostalgia that the speaker has, as well as a sense of determination not to look back at the same time; this is quite interesting and could only be the result of meticulously chosen words.
In the forth (final) stanza the speaker again relays a felling of nostalgia, when he says "I shall be telling this with a sigh Somewhere ages and ages hence". The speaker closes the poem with a sense of pride and accomplishment by announcing "Two roads Diverged in a wood, and I- I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference".
By ending this poem the way that Robert Frost chose
"And be one traveler, long I stood And looked down one as far as I could To where it bent in the undergrowth". These last three lines in the first stanza are almost comical, because they paint such a clear picture of human nature. You as a reader can actually see yourself standing at the cross roads of life; trying to foresee what obstacles and opportunities you will have, as a result of the decision you are being forced to make. But try though you may, you will never really know for certain what the outcome of your decisions will be.
In the forth and fifth line of the third stanza the speaker says "Yet knowing how way, leads on to way I doubted if I should ever come back". This line verbalizes a sense of nostalgia that the speaker has, as well as a sense of determination not to look back at the same time; this is quite interesting and could only be the result of meticulously chosen words.
In the forth (final) stanza the speaker again relays a felling of nostalgia, when he says "I shall be telling this with a sigh Somewhere ages and ages hence". The speaker closes the poem with a sense of pride and accomplishment by announcing "Two roads Diverged in a wood, and I- I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference".
By ending this poem the way that Robert Frost chose