The Road Not Taken Research Paper

The Road Not Taken Throughout life, people come across situations that one is forced to make a choice. Robert Frost conveyed the decision making process in a world famous poem, “The Road Not Taken.” Many people assume that Frost’s poem is about a person who is conflicted on making an important decision in life; however, the poem was originally wrote to tease one of his closest friends, and fellow poet, Edward Thomas. Frost and Thomas would go on walks in the woods together and Thomas would lead Frost down one path, and later wish they had chosen another. Frost claims that Thomas was extremely indecisive and was never really confident on any decision he made. Published in 1916, Robert Frost’s poem, “The Road Not Taken”, was written for his beloved friend Edward Thomas to encourage Thomas to be

While Thomas was hesitant about the situation, Frost was angry and determined to track down the gamekeeper, and so he did. Frost aggressively knocked on the gamekeeper’s door and gave the gamekeeper an earful and was preparing to leave. The keeper then reached for his shotgun and approached Thomas who was not in the argument. When Thomas backed up once again, the man put the gun down and returned into his house. This event haunted Thomas who later pushed him to enter the army and learn to protect himself.

After reading, “The Road Not Taken” and thinking about the encounter with the gamekeeper, Thomas enlisted into the war. According to The Guardian, Thomas wrote Frost and said; “Last week I had screwed myself up to the point of believing I should come out to America and lecture if anyone wanted me to. But I have altered my mind. I am going to enlist on Wednesday if the doctor will pass me.” Thomas experienced a need to protect, he wanted to feel confident about something in his life, and fighting for a cause filled the