Poetry Synthesis Essay

In today's world, where one is expected to conform to the masses, maintaining individuality is often difficult. There are some people who simply follow the herd, and then there are those certain other people who strive to take the reins and become their own person. The former often succeed in their desire to fit in and become another faceless member of the crowd. The latter, however, commands society's respect and ultimately has a better grasp of their identity. The subject of identity and individuality are the main themes of the poems, “Identity” by Julio Noboa Polanco and “The Road Not Taken” by Robert Frost.
“Identity” is an accurately titled poem about originality and independence. The poet compares a flower to a weed by saying that it’s better to take risks and be yourself rather than being “rooted to the ground” and stuck in the same place as everyone else. It is written in a strong and defiant tone, especially in the lines “Let them be as flowers” and “I’d rather”; the poet appears to be very confident in his statement and truly believes in it.
The poem is an extended metaphor and uses symbolism and personification to animate the words. The poet refers to himself as a “tall, ugly weed” amongst “flowers”. He uses the weed to represent his desire to stand tall and free rather than be stuck in a pot. The weed and the flower are presented with the same obstacles, but the flower is pampered and prized and looked after. The poet declares that he would always prefer to be the weed, which is free and independent, over the flower that is beautiful and cherished but is someone’s property. The poet also alludes to his distrust of people in general in the lines “where they’re praised, handled, and plucked by greedy, human hands”.
“The Road Not Taken” is a well-known poem, popular for its existential theme. It is about the choices we make in life and how they affect us later on. The reader can easily empathize with the poet, who must choose between two roads without