Imagery And Symbolism In Robert Frost's The Road Not Taken

What path would you choose? You’re out one day hiking, and you arrive at a split in the road. The left path is clear, but, the right path looks more adventurous with the overgrown plants. This similar situation is demonstrated in Robert Frost’s Allegorical poem “The Road Less Traveled.” However Frost figuratively compares the decision to a life decision. Robert Frost demonstrates that mankind cannot determine their own fate but in fact influence it in “The Road Not Taken,” by the use of an extended metaphor, imagery, and symbolism.

“The Road Not Taken” is often interpreted as a persona contemplating a decision of traveling one of two paths that lie in front of him, in which he chooses the path less traveled, or so it may seem. Although, the

poem generally focuses on a bigger picture, if which, the roads symbolize a life decision. Frost wrote the poem in a first person context, so the reader never really understands who the speaker is, whether it is a persona perhaps or Frost himself. However, Lawrence Thomas, the author of Frost’s biography, states, “Frost would normally introduce the persona in public readings as his close friend Edward Thomas” (Robert Frost: The Years of Triumphs). With this information the reader can have a easier time putting a face to the speaker, which maybe can have carry over into figuring the meaning to the poem. That all being said, the reader may interpret the poem as the speaker taking the road less traveled because as Frost also stated in the biography “Edward was a person who, whichever road he went, would be sorry he didn’t travel the other”(59). However, the poem never clearly stated, “this route is less traveled,” nor did the poem generate a message to show the road is less traveled. As stated in the second stanza “Had worn them really about the same,” clearly shows the reader that each path is equivalent in terms of use. The reader jumps to conclusion from the start of the poem when the speaker tries to figure which path is more preferable. The readers with this interpretation of the rout being “less traveled” must have zoomed over this important line in the poem. Knowing the ancient interpretation of the poem the audience that frost may have attended to read this poem is probably more along the lines of an uneducated teen, struggling to decide what he wants to be when he is older. Overall, the poem did a great job in conveying a message of decision to the reader,
The use of an extended metaphor is used to demonstrate the dilemma that Frost’s persona must encounter.

A metaphor, being a comparison of different things to understand a bigger concept, is demonstrated in this poem as an extended metaphor, due to the fact that the metaphor is spread throughout the entire poem. Frost’s persona encountering a fork in the road is instantly recognized as the personas first issue. As stated “Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, - and sorry I could not travel both,” (1-2) we see that the speaker is encountering two diverging roads in a woods, and he can only choose one to travel. This issue being the literal meaning, however, figuratively the decision between which road to travel also represents a life decision. Paths in woods and are ancient metaphors for a lifeline. To be more specific the fork in the road is also a ancient metaphor for a decision. Acknowledging that fact the reader can conclude that the speaker is figuratively making a life decision. The path that the speaker chooses in life is executed, and concludes through choice and chance; you need both to make any decision. This is comparable to an everyday situation. You cannot see the outcome in any decision in life until you make a decision and take that chance of following through with it. Frost use of the extended metaphor shows that your fate cannot begin until you choose your path and start your journey or in other words your

life.
Frost uses symbolism to show that the diverging roads are directly linked to free will and fate. Symbolism is the use of a symbol to represent an idea or quality. The fork in the road is prime examples of this because, you are free to choose which ever path you want, just know whichever path you choose determines where you end up. For example the speaker states, “And looked down one as far as I could - To where it bent in the undergrowth,” (4-5) demonstrates the speaker is trying to see where each path will take him. The “undergrowth” represents the speaker’s fate. The speaker unfortunately does not know what his fate beholds. However, he can never find out unless he took action and went through with his decision. The speaker is at free will to make that decision with no one there to decide for him. Which in this case he does decide to take initiative in choosing a path as stated, “Then took the other, as just as fair” (6). The reader may make a connection to this section by a career choice. The career a reader chooses in life will dictate everything in life for them from how they, who they meet, even the reader’s income is affected. All these things affected by the career chosen is also known as fate. Symbolizing the diverging roads as a free decision that determines your fate is very important because it is the moral of the whole poem. Without it there is no meaning to the poem, and it becomes nothing more than a persona choosing between two literal paths.
The use of imagery is much needed in the poem “The Road Less Traveled,” because Frost really needs to demonstrate the rough obstacles that both paths will offer. Imagery is perfect for accomplishing this because imagery allows the reader visualize everything. Also, by Frost using a vivid vocabulary, the reader can interact better with the poem, therefore letting the reader’s imagination do wonders, which really helps keeping the reader entertained. For example, when the speaker states, “To where it bent in the undergrowth,”(5) and also “Because it was grassy and wanted wear,”(8) the reader is able to visualize both paths in their heads with the rough obstacles such as the path being “grassy.” Also knowing that at the end of one path it is overgrown can show the reader that the path does not end well. This “overgrown” ending is also the fate of the speaker if he were to choose this particular path. The speaker cannot see what is down at the end of the path, or in this sense his fate. Therefore, he cannot determine his fate, but by not standing still and choosing a path, this will deeply influence his fate that beholds him.
The three elements discussed have this combined way that allows the poem to flow nicely and let the poem speak with its true meaning. Without one element, the other two can not show up with their true potential in creating a meaning to the poem. For instance, without the vivid imagery Frost used to describe the diverging roads, which were the extended metaphor example, the poem would be much more blain unfortunately. The use of imagery allowed the reader to really visualize which road was the better option. Another example of how the three devices worked simultaneously together is how the road included the symbolized journey the persona would take as his fate. the persona was entitled to having a fate which was part of the journey on the roads. Without one imagery or symbolism, the roads couldn’t be expressed as well as they were.
As stated above the three devices all worked well together to create the big picture to the poem. However, metaphors, imagery, and symbolism, all have their own part in created the meaning to any poem. For example, a metaphor can totally change the meaning to any poem. Metaphors can transform something physical into a figurative meaning, just like Frost did so well in this poem. So let’s move onto imagery, which happens to be in my opinion the most important device to any writing. It allows the reader to use their imaginations thus keeping them more interested. It also allows the reader to vividly visualize what the scenery is which can be very important to finding the meaning. If a poet described “Hell” for instance in a boring and non-descriptive way the reader would not see this dark and gloomy place as so bad. However, we all know that Hell isn’t a fun place at all. Then lastly Symbolism. Symbolism can very much be the most creative device in poetry. This is because nothing is set and stoned, the poet can take his imagination to the next level and create a totally different meaning to something in a story. Symbolism can be very difficult to find, which can create a totally different meaning to any poem if not found. This however is a good thing. Not everyone is the same and thinks the same, thus everyone has a different opinion on what the meaning is to a poem. This creates academic conversation and debates, which is a lovely thing to any scholar.
Robert Frost Showed the reader that no one can predict what their faith beholds, however they can influence it with the use of an extended metaphor, symbolism, and imagery. We all would love to know what decision in life is always right to take. However, none of us can predict the future. Now you’re probably thinking, “Well who cares what you think?” well in fact having my insight of the poem and others insight is very important because without others perspectives on things we would have no debates, or conversations. The poem would be much less significant. Also without others insights we would be so fixated on our own insight we would not even think of what else the poem may mean. We as humans need to be open minded. Having an open mind set means you are ready to learn. Otherwise you are nothing but an ignorant person who thinks they know everything. Our insight of the poem might be totally different from what frost intended. We may never know the exact truth. However, that is the beauty of poetry. Your insight is dedicated personally to yourself. It is how you interpreted it and connected with the poem. Anything personal is something worth taking the time to appreciate and think critically about.