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English Critique Reader response

The document critiques Robert Frost's poem 'The Road Not Taken,' emphasizing its themes of decision-making and the metaphor of life's journey. It suggests that the poem encourages readers to make thoughtful choices and reflects on the emotions associated with such decisions. The analysis highlights the personal impact of the poem on the reader's understanding of their own life choices.

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23 views

English Critique Reader response

The document critiques Robert Frost's poem 'The Road Not Taken,' emphasizing its themes of decision-making and the metaphor of life's journey. It suggests that the poem encourages readers to make thoughtful choices and reflects on the emotions associated with such decisions. The analysis highlights the personal impact of the poem on the reader's understanding of their own life choices.

Uploaded by

Izumi
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Critique Reader-Response theory

The Road Not Taken


BY ROBERT FROST

The Road Not Taken is one of Robert Frost’s works, It was published in The Atlantic Monthly in
August 1915 and used as the opening poem of his collection Mountain Interval (1916). Frost
was born in March 26, 1874, San Francisco, California and died January 29, 1963, He was an
American poet who was much admired for his depictions of the rural life of New England, his
command of American colloquial speech, and his realistic verse portraying ordinary people in
everyday situations. Frost wrote the road not taken as a joke for a friend, the poet Edward
Thomas. When they went walking together. In this poem Robert Frost talks about having to
make a decision when coming to a fork in the road and uses the road as a metaphor for the
journey of life.

After reading The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost, one can ask themself how does the
interaction of text and reader create meaning? Making better decisions in life is a skill you can
practice and develop, it determine how your choice will impact your life and as well as the lives
of others, and respond accordingly. I believe that in this poem it’s telling us to choose carefully
in making a decision for yourself especially in the future. “Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
and sorry I could not travel both” frost states that there are two roads, or paths, that he can
choose but cannot choose both, no matter what you choose you cannot go back to travel the
other one. One path states that it’s popular and many people took that path, however frost
decided to take the one that is not popular. “Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—I took the
one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.” In my understanding, do not take the
same path that could lead you come to grief instead create your own path and make a
difference. Compare this poem to life and see how similar it is. For me as a high school student
comparing this to life you can really see the path that you choose, I choose to take my studies,
observe others and see the path they choose, some people around my age already have kids or
just joking in life. The term “Have fun while you’re still a kid” doesn’t really apply much to me I
wonder why? I know that it’s hard to make decisions in life and can sometimes feel like
impossible since your future depends on it and this poem also portraying ordinary people in
everyday situations. I personally think that this poem makes a difference to those who read it
and make them realize the path they choose. And how different it is from other path.

In Conclusion the main theme of the poem is making the right decisions at the right time. It
offers a profound perception of decision making. The traveler comes across a path that was
diverging into two and he was in a dilemma regarding which path to choose. This hides a deep
meaning behind it. Robert Frost talks about having to make a decision when coming to a fork in
the road and uses the road as a metaphor for the journey of life. It discusses all of the emotions
that come with needing to make a decision, and how these choices can often lead us to having
regrets or wondering what could have happened differently.

The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost | Summary & Analysis


Robert Frost
READER-RESPONSE CRITICISM TO “THE ROAD NOT TAKEN” BY ROBERT FROST
March 19, 2024
Retrieved from: https://demikobarrett.wordpress.com/2015/02/25/reader-response-criticism-to-
the-road-not-taken-by-robert-frost/ & https://www.britannica.com/biography/Robert-Frost &
https://study.com/learn/lesson/the-road-not-taken-robert-frost-summary-themes-symbolism.html

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