“Road Not Taken”
When interpreting this poem, paying attention to both literal and metaphoric language is essential. The very first line of the writing, “Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,” allows supposing that the poet is in a forest and it is Autumn (Frost, “The Road,” line 1). In a literal sense, the poet simply needs to choose between two paths, while on a symbolic level, he may decide how to live his life and what to be. The poet takes the less explored path in the woods that “was grassy and wanted wear” (Frost, “The Road,” line 8).
In real life, it seems like the poet chooses to be unique or makes a decision that is rarely made by others. Frost indicates that it is impossible for one person, “one traveler,” to select both paths, and returning to the other one cannot happen(“The Road,” line 3). Therefore, when a choice is made, traveling back to the past to decide differently is not possible: “Knowing how way leads on to way / I doubted if I should ever come back” (Frost, “The Road,” lines 14-15).
The poem’s tone is melancholy, but the poet does not regret his decision, and evaluating this seems irrelevant. If Frost were dissatisfied, it would not matter because changing this is impossible. However, the poet anticipates that years later, he will just know that the critical aspect was selecting the less explored and less traveled path, regardless of whether it was positive or negative.
“Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening”
In this poem, the literal and symbolic meanings are also interconnected. The poet states that he is in the snowy woods on “the darkest evening of the year” (Frost, “Stopping by Woods,” line 8). This day is Winter Solstice, which is believed to symbolize death and rebirth and people’s connection with nature. These are the concepts that the poet possibly experiences, making him stop right there and watch the snow cover the trees in the dark. Considering the literal meaning, it is likely that the poet goes home through the woods, but metaphorically – he is in the middle of his life journey, going from birth toward death.
Works Cited
Frost, Robert. “The Road Not Taken.” Poetry Foundation, 1916. Web.
Frost, Robert. “Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening.” Poetry Foundation, 1923. Web.