The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost Summary and Analysis

Robert Frost most beloved poem is The Road Not Taken. However, it's also one of the most misinterpreted poem in the 20th Century. So her is a complete summary and analysis and what it may truly mean.

[captainobvious]

This is a pretty good analysis. The road taken was actually not less travelled by, as he admits that the two paths were pretty much the same, but he convinces himself that, perhaps, one was better, without a real rationale. So, in my opinion, the last stanza indicates that, later in life, he will romanticize (the sigh) about the decision, making it out to be some sort of altruistic choice, when in reality, it was just a random decision with no rationale whatsoever. It is the admission that, in the future, he will likely be exaggerating (or fooling himself) about the thought he put into making the impactful decision, when in reality, it was just luck. This poem is not about the courage of taking an unpopular pathway. It’s about the errancy of nostalgic memory or the need to feel that impactful decisions of our lives were intentional, when they really weren’t. Maybe it is grasping for a sense of control of his life. Read this again in that light. He is saying, “In the future, I will make more of this decision than what really occurred at the time.” I read the “I...I “ as the intentional, dramatic stuttering of someone telling a tall tale.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

The fact that the title of the poem is about the road NOT taken shows that the speaker is somewhat lamenting the decision, thinking about what might have been, and attempting to console himself or convince himself that it was the right choice. Ever wonder why the title is not “The Road Less Traveled By?”

[msemna]

is anyone here in 2024 ???
broo you're explanation was soooo good and fun and finally i understood the poem because of you thank you sooo much
and i hope you're doing well now and please come back and do more poem analysis, it's such a unique content with such a unique method of explanation

[fatimachelladurai]

The explanation is perfect.... But the music along is making it difficult to understand
Thanks ☺️

[certifyvi]

The background music made me not focus

[andrelevorin]

the background song is kinda annoying but otherwise great job

[Vastafari]

Super annoying background music, too loud, and made feel like I was getting a cavity drilled out, but good material.

[charlesmontoya]

Have you ever hear the Tragedy of Darth Plagueis the Wise? I thought not. It's not a story the Jedi would tell you. It's a Sith legend. Darth Plagueis was a Dark Lord of the Sith, so powerful and so wise he could use the Force to influence the midichlorians to create life. He had such a knowledge of the dark side that he could even keep the ones he cared about from dying. The dark side of the Force is a pathway to many abilities some consider to be unnatural. He became so powerful that the only thing he was afraid of was losing his power, which eventually, of course, he did. Unfortunately, he taught his apprentice everything he knew. Then his apprentice killed him in his sleep. It's ironic, he could save others from death, but not himself.

[MathebulaJ]

I wish you had not included the background song as this is the most clear explanation I've come across

[vas]

The only reason I'll be passing my English paper tomorrow is because I found this video.

[DylansPen]

He was in fact making fun of his friend. One picks a road, and that's it. Both roads were worn the same, one isn't better than the other as you note. And Frost uses a clever way to finalize the joke.

'Two roads diverged in a yellow wood and I- (He splits to personage in two. I-I)
I took the road less travelled by ('travelled by' can mean travelled on or travelled past, exact opposite meanings)
and that has made all the difference' (the only difference is you pick a road and it leads to a different destination, that's it and nothing more)

Nearly everyone that reads this thinks it is 'the road less travelled', it isn't. It is The Road Not Taken. It has nothing to do with picking a better road, you just have options along the way where the destination is generally unknown and you pick one and it leads to something. That's all.

[annaackley]

Great analysis! However, music was a little distracting.

[yatharthomg]

the background music cured by ball cancer

[anissasanchez]

I need help with analyzing the road not taken because i need to teach a class. And im nervous and confused about what to do.

[adelaidemedici]

“My friend has eight rabbits.”This is a quote from Jerry McGuire, the movie.

There’s no way in a poem like this we can pre-suppose the relationship with his friend, because we do not know he has a friend named Thomas.

At least not from the information given,
good Lord. I guess anyone can just make their own effing case be done with this poem and get the grade the way the teacher in class views it.

Good job BTW but people try to hard to find meaning.

[i_feel_so_fluffy]

Broo... You were just so good in explaining it, i really appreciate it ♥

[jihadbaodhah]

2:20 but he also says " Because it was grassy and wanted wear" . So I think they were kinda different from each other 🤔

[kumarisadhana]

Just decrease the music you will be successful

[everythingefl]

Hi, can you change the settings and add English auto-genrerated captions please? Thanks!

[qolnipq]

so okay
would someone please rewrite a new poem that claims that he/she is satisfied with taking the road less traveled?

[Murfbeetle]

Weren’t they not the same? One of them was grassy and wanted wear that means it was lush and green and wanted some to try it out. So it can’t be the same.