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The Road Not Taken

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The Road Not Taken: Poetry Essay

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Thesis statement: The symbolic setting, title, content and metrical devices support the poem’s (The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost) overall meaning.

Outline:

Title “Poetry Essay”

I. Introduction

A. The influence of decision making process in human life.

B. The problem faced by the speaker in the poem.

II. Body

A. Theme

B. Symbolic setting

C. Significance of the title

D. Rhyme scheme and metrical devices

III. Conclusion

A. The lyrical elements of the poem

B. All the elements of the poem support its overall meaning.

Poetry Essay

The Road Not Taken, the poem by Robert Frost is related to the dilemmatic situation of decision making in human life. To be specific, one’s decision in critical situations transforms one’s life into success or failure. Besides, wise decision at apt situations leads to success in life. But human beings are not ready to take decisions based upon their free will. This creates much tension in future life because false decisions lead to failure, which cannot be changed. In this poem, the speaker faces the same problem faced by human beings for generations.

Theme:

As pointed out, the theme of the poem is related to making a choice in one’s life or simply decision making. The speaker is not ready to choose the well-worn path because he is aware of his power to choose his own way and not to follow others. Frost states that “I took the one less treaded by, and that has made all the difference” (10). In short, the courage to take risk in one’s life/ the decision to explore new horizons is the main theme of the poem.

Symbolic setting:

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