The Road Not Taken Tone

Poetry has graced the world of literature for centuries. Writers have entertained their thoughts on paper with their use of language, symbols, and imagery. For as long as there have been poets writing poetry, there has been people trying to interpret their meaning. Often, these interpretations are based on what the reader wants to see versus the authors intended purpose. Robert Frost’s “The Road Not Taken” is a popular poem that is often misinterpreted as a message to nonconformity. However, the poem’s use of symbolism and subtle irony reflects a regretful tone to cultivate its true message about the complexities of decision making and missed opportunities. The use of Frost’s imagery can be first found in the title, “The Road Not Taken.” The title introduces its main use of symbolism with roads. The figurative use of roads throughout the poem is a metaphor for making decisions and the paths taken every day throughout life. Frost introduces the
The speaker makes these connotations based on his word choice. In the beginning of the poem he mentions how he was “sorry I could not travel both” (2). He wishes he could have traveled both roads, not that he was just certain he wanted to travel one over the other. He regrets the fact he could not travel both. Even after making a choice he “kept the first for another day! / Yet knowing how way leads to way, / I doubted if should ever come back” (13-15). The speaker still is uncertain and wants to travel the other road. He is worried that by not taking the other road he has encountered missed opportunities. Later, he “shall be telling this with a sigh” that he is proud of his decision. However, with the use of the sigh it is apparent that the speaker is regretful of his decision. Throughout the poem, Frost portrays a regretful tone to show the distress and uncertainty the speaker is facing in making this