COURSE AND TITLE: ENGL 102: Literature and Composition
SEMESTER OF ENROLLMENT:
NAME:
WRITING STYLE USED: MLA
.
Thesis statement: The symbolic setting, title, content and metrical devices support the poem’s (The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost) overall meaning.
Outline:
Title “Poetry Essay”
I. Introduction
A. The influence of decision making process in human life.
B. The problem faced by the speaker in the poem.
II. Body
A. Theme
B. Symbolic setting
C. Significance of the title
D. Rhyme scheme and metrical devices
III. Conclusion
A. The lyrical elements of the poem
B. All the elements of the poem support its overall meaning.
Poetry Essay
The Road Not Taken, the poem by Robert Frost is related to the dilemmatic situation of decision making in human life. To be specific, one’s decision in critical situations transforms one’s life into success or failure. Besides, wise decision at apt situations leads to success in life. But human beings are not ready to take decisions based upon their free will. This creates much tension in future life because false decisions lead to failure, which cannot be changed. In this poem, the speaker faces the same problem faced by human beings for generations. Thesis statement: The symbolic setting, title, content and metrical devices support the poem’s (The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost) overall meaning.
Theme:
As pointed out, the theme of the poem is related to making a choice in one’s life or simply decision making. The speaker is not ready to choose the well-worn path because he is aware of his power to choose his own way and not to follow others. Frost states that “I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference” (610). In short, the courage to take risk in one’s life/ the decision to explore new horizons
References: Kennedy, X.J, Dana Gioia, The Road Not Taken, by Robert Frost, Literature, 6th Ed., Longman, 2010. Print .