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The Meaning Behind "The Road Not Taken"

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The meaning behind “The Road Not Taken”
Laura M. Beck
Liberty University
English 102
September 26th 2011

Outline I. Symbolism II. Theme
The paths and choices of life III. Mood and setting
Choosing the right path a. One leads to eternal life b. One leads to destruction IV. Conclusion
Choosing the right path makes all the difference.
Thesis statement: This poem is a symbol of choosing which path we will take in life – the path to eternal life or the path that leads to destruction.

The meaning of “The Road Not Taken”
Some people have said that Robert Frost’s poem “The Road Less Traveled” is a tricky poem. I have even read where Frost himself used the word “tricky” to describe this particular piece of his. However when reading the poem especially as a Christian there is one possible interpretation that should stand out. That is that this poem is a symbol of choosing which path we will take in life – the path to eternal life or the path that leads to destruction. From what I have read many people do not see the two roads as the two possible roads we can take in life, but one must see that at least as a possibility. The mood of this poem is one that is a bit on the serious side. Of course there are many poems much more serious than this, but it is not to be taken lightly. When something is talking about choosing eternal life, or the path that leads to destruction it is not something anybody should take lightly. That is the theme of the poem, choose the path of life. In life people have to make choices. In the poem there are “two roads diverged in a yellow wood.” These are representing the two paths we have to choose from in life. The road to heaven or the road to hell these are the two paths we see in the wood. Frost talks about wanting to be able to travel both roads, but he is only one man so it is impossible for him to cut

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