Today, we are going to learn about the poem ‘The Road Not Taken’ by Robert Frost. In this post, we will cover everything you need to know about the poem, starting with About the Lesson, About the poet, the Theme, a Short & Detailed Summary, the Central Idea, Poetic Devices used in the poem, stanza wise explanation, and finally, a Mind Map drawing to recall this chapter before the exam. Let’s begin!
About the Lesson – The Road Not Taken
“The Road Not Taken” is the first poem in Class 9 NCERT English Beehive. It is a narrative poem that deals with the theme of choices and their consequences in life. The poet uses the metaphor of a forked road in a yellow wood to represent the complexities of life’s decisions. The poem teaches that choices define our journey, and once a decision is made, it shapes our future.
About the Poet – Robert Frost
Robert Frost (1874–1963) was an American poet famous for his realistic depictions of rural life and his deep philosophical themes. He received four Pulitzer Prizes for Poetry and is considered one of the greatest poets of the 20th century. His works often explore human emotions, nature, and life’s dilemmas in a simple yet profound style.
The Road Not Taken Theme
The central theme of “The Road Not Taken” is choices and their consequences. Life is full of decisions, and each choice shapes our future. The poem emphasises that once a choice is made, it cannot be undone, and we often wonder about the road not taken. It also highlights individuality and the courage to take the less common path, which makes all the difference.
Short Summary of The Road Not Taken
The poem describes a traveller standing at a crossroads in a forest, faced with two paths. He wishes he could travel both, but must choose one. After careful thought, he chooses the road “less travelled by,” which symbolises an unconventional choice in life. Later, he reflects that this decision made all the difference in his life. The poem conveys that our choices define our destiny, and every decision has consequences we cannot foresee.
The Road Not Taken Summary
The poem begins with the poet standing in a yellow wood, where two roads diverge. The poet feels sorry that he cannot travel both paths. He examines one road as far as he can see and then chooses the other, which appears less travelled and more inviting.
Later, he realises that both roads were almost the same, covered with leaves untouched by footsteps. He decides to keep the first road for another day, but he knows deep down that he will probably never return to it.
In the future, the poet imagines himself telling this story with a sigh—that he chose the road less travelled by, and this decision made all the difference in his life. The sigh suggests mixed feelings: satisfaction for choosing differently and curiosity about the untaken path.
The poem reflects life’s reality: every decision has consequences, and once a path is chosen, there is no turning back. It conveys that choices define our destiny.
The Road Not Taken Poetic Devices
Robert Frost uses several poetic devices in this poem:
- Metaphor – The two roads represent two different choices or directions in life.
- Symbolism – The roads symbolise life’s choices; the yellow wood symbolises autumn, a time of change.
- Imagery – Visual images like “two roads diverged in a yellow wood” create a clear picture in the reader’s mind.
- Alliteration – Repetition of consonant sounds: wanted wear, first for
- Repetition – The line “I doubted if I should ever come back” emphasises uncertainty.
- Anaphora – Repetition of words at the beginning of lines: “And both that morning equally lay…”
- Personification – The road is given human qualities, as if it could be “grassy” and “wanted wear.”
- Rhyme Scheme – ABAAB in each stanza.
The Road Not Taken Central Idea
The central idea of “The Road Not Taken” by Robert Frost is about the importance of the choices we make in life. The poet uses the metaphor of two diverging roads to show how every person faces decisions that can change their future. Once a choice is made, it cannot be undone, and it determines our journey. The poem also conveys that sometimes taking the less common path—being different from others—can make a significant difference in life. Ultimately, it teaches that choices shape our destiny and we must accept their consequences.
The Road Not Taken Explanation
Below is the detailed explanation for each stanza of The Road Not Taken poem with difficult words and reference to context:
Stanza 1
Lines:
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveller, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Difficult Word Meanings
- Diverged – separated or split into different directions
- Yellow wood – forest in autumn season (yellow leaves)
- Undergrowth – dense growth of bushes and small plants under trees
Explanation with Reference to Context
The poet is standing in a forest in the autumn season where two roads split into different directions. He feels sad because he cannot travel both roads as he is just one person. He stands for a long time, looking down one road as far as he can see, but it curves into the undergrowth and disappears from sight. This situation represents life’s decisions when we must choose one option out of many.
Stanza 2
Lines:
Then took the other, just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same.
Difficult Word Meanings
- Fair – attractive, equally good
- Claim – right or reason to choose
- Wanted wear – looked like it had been used less
Explanation with Reference to Context
The poet decides to take the second road because it looks equally good and perhaps better since it is grassy and seems less used. However, he admits that both roads had been worn almost equally by travelers. This shows that sometimes choices appear different but are actually very similar in reality.
Stanza 3
Lines:
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
Difficult Word Meanings
- Trodden – walked on
- Leads on to way – one choice leads to another, making it hard to return
Explanation with Reference to Context
Both roads looked almost the same that morning, covered with fresh leaves that had not been crushed by footsteps. The poet thought of returning to try the first road another day, but he knew that one path leads to another, and it is unlikely he would ever come back. This shows the finality of life’s choices—once a decision is made, we usually cannot go back.
Stanza 4
Lines:
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence;
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I —
I took the one less travelled by,
And that has made all the difference.
Difficult Word Meanings
- Sigh – a deep breath expressing emotion (could be regret or satisfaction)
- Hence – in the future
Explanation with Reference to Context
The poet imagines that in the future he will tell this story with a sigh, expressing mixed emotions about his choice. He will say that he took the road less travelled by, and that made a significant difference in his life. This highlights that our decisions shape our destiny, and even small choices can have a big impact.
Read Also: The Road Not Taken NCERT Solutions