This is a pretty good analysis, but it is missing an important fact. 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?”
I think realistically, it's much more likely that someone romanticizes his choice especially when knowing the choices were the same because 1) no one has the ability to see how different things would turn out had he picked the alternative, and 2) what evidence does he have that things would've turned out different when he admits that the causes are the same? It sounds more like he CHOSE to believe that his choice mattered even when his intellectual knew that it didn't. he has successfully deceived himself. if Indiana Jones had drank from a wooden cup and still die, how could anyone claim that the wooden cup is the Holy Grail? Perhaps this is the poem version for "all roads lead to Rome"? it's an illusion of free will, yes? Furthermore, "that has made ALL the difference" could also mean "no difference", no? Sometimes, when we say "you're as clever", we don't actually mean that person is clever, yes? When it's "you're as clever as a slug", that's not clever at all!
This is an amazing analogy, I tried to find this poem but couldn't remember its name, so I ended up searching "the road less travelled by", since THAT was more memorable than the name. Returning to the name of the poem, the whole initial meaning I found in it had lost it's purpose, and forced me to erase the thought that it is about choice, just like the though of the road that wasn't travelled. I fell as though he was speaking through a future self, reminding you that your decisions will always be questioned, tand therefore to have less pressure about which path you chose now/ had chosen and will choose. But it can also be down to interpretation, and the meaning can change depending on which part of life you are in. I'm quite positive that he intended to leave it with a sense of ambiguity.
You're just his ghost hacking into the comments aren't you? Lol. Seriously, he basically said exactly that and if you read more than 2 of his other works the biting sarcastic undertone screams out. And icymi he wrote the road not taken to poke fun at a friend who was constantly doing that!
To me his sigh is used to express his relief that comes after a deep thinking ..He's telling others 'not to be afraid in taking their decisions and to challenge their experiences and be independent from other's experience'.. a new thing doesn't not mean "failure"
Thank you for a lovely delivery of your interpretation of this poem. To me, this poem paints human nature. We are often faced with a number of options in life and after careful consideration, we do have to pick one. However, regardless of the outcome, we tend to ask: " How would it be like if I took the other option? Would it be better? Was it the right decision? When the author says "and I- I took the one less traveled by" , I think he asserts that he took the decision to the best of his ability at the time and now takes the full responsibility for it. And this is how we should face dilemmas in life. We make the best evaluation of the options, then choose the best one, and don`t question afterward- knowing we have taken the decision to the best of our knowledge at a time.
Hi Rebecca. A fellow university professor here (Literature and Creative Writing) who also loves to work through this poem with my students. I loved what you did here - the way you explained this most famous poem both technically, and philosophically. I loved the way you offered three possible interpretations of it. I was a bit curious throughout the video whether you knew what Frost actually said about this poem, and of course you did. Your explanation of a third possible explanation was related to Frost's admission that he wrote the poem for his friend, the British poet Edward Thomas. However, without getting into that, as a poet, writer, songwriter, playwright, I do not want my audience to only know why I wrote something, or what I meant by what I wrote. I want my audience to take my work and turn it into something that they can use. I want them to personalize my words, my ideas, maybe even my style, so that they might be specifically useful to them, the reader. In truth, it doesn't matter why Frost wrote the poem, or what he inevitably meant by it. What matters is what the reader takes from it, which is ultimately, very personal. You allowed that to happen here, beautifully.
I remember reading this in high school (probably around 1966). You are so right. It is a very personal poem and each can take it in as how they view their future and their past life. If a person truly understands this poem; they will realize that only they can interpret it.
Thank you so much for this. Frost took us on a journey and let us feel like it could have been, and probably was, our journey. And then, wonderfully, he leaves us to decide what it all means. That's the sort of art that lasts forever.
In the first stanza when he says he has to choose one path because a person can't be at two places simultaneously. But the title of the poem suggests that though he is somewhere far far into the second path but mentally he is still stuck on The Road NOT taken. The theme of the poem is this coexistence in every human life. We are here but we are also somewhere else.
Thank you very much for posting this video, I truly appreciate it! My two cents; he simply took the un-common route, didn't follow the crowd, he took the unknown and there's usually a great sense of fear in anything unknown, he made a difference for himself that most folks don't wanna step up to, he did something different (perhaps unacceptable) and that was powerful in so many ways, I think there's an "inner peace" of making that different choice like gold going through fire and in pain (thus the "sigh") but coming out purified, stronger and of more value. we all have choices. (ps: you're so cute and so soft-spoken)
I can listen to this exquisite lady for hours...she is music to my spirit. I would really like to hear her read Fern Hill by Dylan Thomas. Thanks for your time.
Thanks Rebecca, Robert Frost was our mentor in the Kennedy years. A collection of his poems was the first gift I gave my sweetheart. We quoted him lovingly all the time.” As I went out a crow in a low voice said ‘Oh.....”and “The Oven Bird”. Being from ‘fly over country’ Frost must surely have been a poet Pete Buttigieg has read (avidly?).Thinking today of Pete’s own Road Not Taken. 13-4/20-20.
This is my favorite poem since it really encapsulates my being. Very nice. I love your explanation of this poem. Thank you for making this content @sixminutescholar . All the best, WildTraveler
A agree with the last interpretation. And have read about it. I would enjoy hearing it said as the sarcastic piece. I would like to recite both back to back as pure entertainment.
Everyone else's description/analysis of this poem is so complicated and hard to understand....I LOVED this video. It broke it down and it really helped me understand the poem more. Thanks!
Thank you so much for these videos Rebecca! They have helped me get a better grasp on the underlying meaning of the work :) wish you were my professor! Btw you also have a wonderful voice 😊
I have a test tomorrow and was feeling a little difficult to understand the poem but you with your soothing voice explained it like magic ! thank you so much for such a great explanation 💕
I’ve always thought that the repetition of “I” was him reaffirming the fact that he made the decision. It was his choice and his alone. He may not be sure whether or not he made the right choice in hindsight, but he’s confident that nothing and no one made the decision for him.
For me, and this is based on my personal experiences. The dash after ‘I” is based on the reflection of the more I say this, the more I will believe I made the right choice.
To me, the mere fact that he focuses on “the road not taken “ (it’s the title of the poem) shows regret and remorse. It seems as if the mood was look at the great path I am on because of it, then he would’ve titled it “the road taken”. I am new to poetry so found this very interesting and informative. It makes me excited to delve more into poetry.
I think people sigh for different reasons: contentment, worry, resignation, happiness, relief, etc. I can imagine people “sighing” any of the following (out loud or just in thought): “This’ll do I guess” “I hope it’ll be okay” “Might as well, I guess” “Oh, just glad to be home” “Finally” Just my 2 cents, thanks for the video. Liked.
There was no road less traveled by. That's established earlier in the poem. Is saying his road was less traveled by trying to read his personal choices in the best possible light.
I am a new viewer, this is a wonderful analysis. I think you have seen through all the lenses that Frost would have, that is what makes this poem genius, it welcomes all to think from their preservative about the road they have taken. This has always been one of my favorite and last year I found myself writing a poem about a road and it's sentiment reminded me of Frost, since then the feelings about the road have changed, like time, like perspectives and that is why this poem is magical. 🖒
A sigh of satisfaction perhaps. Or of weariness. A sigh does not automatically mean regret or dissatisfaction. It's like crying for joy or crying out of sadness. Same for a sigh, it can mean a variety of things. This is not a poem of regret, rather of triumph.
thank's so much i remember learning that poem back in high school i was just today walking on some pathes near my place and came apon two pathes which diverted but it was not in a yellow wood's but in a green wood's seeing how it's the begging of summer OMG i know my spelling sorrey i never did finish high skool but somehow i remember that poem thank's so much
Wow, i really like your way of reading the poem, you are very talented. Please review more poems, it's a pleasure ! (Your review of the Ozymandias poem is wonderful too)
...I think I'm one of those people who keeps stressing about choices made for way too long. But I read the poem in the positive way ^_^ with a nostalgic and positive sigh. Great explanation! This is my very favourite poem (I have it painted on my wall).
My teacher is probably the worst teacher ever , so when I watched this video I understood the poem so damn good I got an A grade !!!! Thank you so much for the explanation
Few years ago I got a job in revenue department. Here people offer a lot of money and respect to a revenue official. For me, it was the field that had everything opposite to my feelings. Luckily I got a job in the Department of Education. Here people don't respect a teacher. Besides, condition of schools is also bad. I had to choose the one. Right or wrong! No... The better one... Or that I and I feel better. I left the revenue job and that made the difference. It would have also made a difference whichever road I took. There are some beautiful sceneries in both the roads but what pleases me is where I stepped and that made a difference.
It's about the human condition where you cannot be two things at once or be in two places at once or do two things at once, here and there, be this and that, be male and female. It's about experiences missed, opportunities lost because we all 'one traveller' per time. It's about not even being able to make a choice because you don't see the end of two choices even at the point of decision making. So you live through life wondering about the road not taken, the decision not made.
Very good analysis. Sitting in the classroom and listen to my instructor is not helpful for me. Your explanation helps me understand more on my reading.
Actually I really have a doubt in the second paragraph first it is written that the second path wanted wear and the it is said that the passers by had worn them almost the same ?? How
The final DASH Matters Examining the poem for 'authorial intent', through 'stylistic choices GRAMMATICALLY speaking: The fact that Frost chose a 'dash' and specifically NOT an elipsis (...) is significant The grammatical purpose of the dash placed at the END of a sentence, is to summarize the point(s) made before it The fact that Frost decided to punctuate the closing stanza specifically with a 'dash', validates the interpretation that the storyteller chose the non-conformist option. --------------------------------------------------------------------- "The Road 🛣️ Not Taken" Is the more apt title, for many reasons... ------------------------------------------ Thematically, based on Frost's intended recipient, the poem is a criticism on 'indecisiveness' The poem is arguing to make a decision; any decision. Especially when the differences are so minor. Otherwise you will be stuck daydreaming and ultimately aggrandizing trivial choices
I got that line inked on my arm before I went to war. Philosophically, it doesn't mean a damn thing. Grammatically, when less- is used as a prefix, it becomes a null. My ink has turned green, and The Road Less Traveled is,what could of, what should of have been, and why didn't I.
Another wonderful video! Thanks! I sometimes think Frost's use of repetition of the word "I" at the end almost sounds like he is going to say one thing, but he hesitates, and then he decides to say that he took the less travelled road (as though he is choosing to lie about what he actually chose). Perhaps to make his story sound nicer to whoever he is telling it to, or even to suggest to his listener that taking the less travelled road is the better decision even though that's not what the speaker actually did.
