Robert Frost's poem, "The Road Not Taken" is, at first look, Frost's wistful memory of
coming to two roads while walking in the woods and having to choose one of the two to
travel. However when taking a in-depth look at his poem, one finds that he is offering
words of wisdom about making life choices based on the experiences he has had in his
Frost wishes he could travel both roads, wanting to see what lies at the end of
each. "And sorry I could not travel both/ And be one traveler...". We all often wish we
could see the outcome of all the possible choices before we make them, but Frost realizes
that this is impossible, "and be one traveler, long I stood/ And Looked down one as far as
I could To where it bent in the undergrowth", that in life we are only one person and
must try to make the best choice possible.
Frost examines the second road and comes to a decision about which to take.
"Then took the other, just as fair/ And having perhaps the better claim/ Because it was
grassy and wanted wear". Frost see that the second road is less traveled , and thinks that,
perhaps he should travel it because it is the "unconventional way" and might give him
different experiences than most people have had. He decides, however that both "had
worn them really about the same" but still chooses to take the different path than most
At the end of the poem Frost looks back sentimentally, telling how he told himself
that he would save the " first [road] for another day" but knew deep down that he
wouldn't be coming back. And even though, at times he regrets taking the "less traveled"
or harder road ("I shall be telling this with a sigh"), that is the path he chose and that
:"made all the difference."
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