Robert Frost's work, The Road Not Taken, conveys a very simplistic yet introspective theme. The poem describes the dilemmas and choices one must make in life, and how these specific decisions affect that person. Frost establishes this theme with an allegorical illustration of two paths in the woods. Later in the poem, the author reveals the main character's attributes and personality as he reflects on past life choices. This characterization helps bridge the gap between reader and character, allowing the poem to communicate a deeper resonance. Frost enhances the reader's figurative presence in the poem by presenting such iconic diction and setting. The use of such devices again contributes to the connection between reader and character, forcing Frost's message to become even more insightful. Robert Frost adopts a very thoughtful and impactful tone in his poem The Road Not Taken through symbolic imagery, representational setting, in-depth characterization, and powerful diction, in order to encourage the reader to reflect on their own life choices. to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay The poem shows readers that there are millions of decisions we must make in life and that sometimes it is best to leave choices to chance and realize and that sometimes regret is inevitable. Then he took the other, just as right, And having perhaps the better claim” is a quote in which we can say that he thought a lot about this decision. We discover throughout the poem that there are two roads to follow, but the traveler, who we assume to be Robert Frost, does not know which one to take. We discover that this is a life-changing decision, not just a choice between two mediocre options. Towards the conclusion, the tone shifts radically from indecisive to regret. The poet sighs and speaks in a sad tone about a period of his life. And I believe that the tone of sadness is appropriate for such a poem, as shown by some of the poet's expressions and phrases, such as "And sorry, I couldn't travel both", "I doubted that I would ever be able to come back”, “I will tell this with a sigh”, and so on. The speaker further speaks of a characteristic of human nature. The poem is written in the first person and uses the pronoun "I" to personalize its meaning as a tool for the reader to have direct access to the poet's thoughts and feelings. One of the most significant elements of this poem is Frost's use of imagery. In the opening lines of the poem, the main character stops on a forking path in the forest, wondering which way he will go. This part, being one of the most vital, symbolizes a choice to make, most likely in life. Roads in literature often correlate with a journey or migration from one place to another. Thus, the character's reflection on the path forward reveals the character's personal reflection on the direction to take in life. Second, before continuing his journey, the character notices that the end of the first path is covered with a kind of "undergrowth", metaphorically indicating the perplexity of life and the inability to predict the consequences of life choices. The poem undoubtedly presents this analysis in the first stanza: "Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, / And sorry I could not travel both / And being one traveler, I stood long / And I looked at one as far as I could / Towards where it bent in the undergrowth…” (lines1-5). Furthermore, it can be said that Frost's use of these figurative images is centralized to illustrate his tone of introspection and cogitation, as they boldly depict the importance of lifestyle decision-making. Another literary aspect that Frost uses to express his tone is setting. In the poem he writes: “Two roads diverge in a yellow wood…” (line 1). The phrase “a “yellow wood” may be an indication of the color radiated by the trees. This suggests that the story is most likely set in mid-autumn, which contributes to the feeling that time is running out – as in life – for the character. Here, Frost describes his tone again as he demonstrates the character's rational contemplation and, ultimately, regret. The author further sets the scene by stating that the paths were not worn, even stating that one of them was grassy, ​​providing a place of serenity and aesthetic beauty. This interpretation of the setting applies a philosophical aspect to the poem, as it represents a life of innocence and potential. The forked path could symbolize maturation and development, as the character is forced to choose the direction in which they want to take their life. In the second stanza it says: “Then I took the other, just as fair, / And having perhaps the better claim, / Because he was grassy and wanted to be carried…” ( lines 6-8). In this part of the poem, it almost seems like the character was foolishly expecting life to want him to enter it, as the poem suggests, the grass wanted to wear out. This is probably one of the reasons why the character expresses regret later in the work. Once again, Frost communicates his solemn and contemplative tone by familiarizing the reader with the character's experiences. Frost draws the reader into the story by characterizing the man or woman standing in the woods. The character obviously seems conflicted throughout the story as he is faced with a dilemma and ends up experiencing mixed emotions when one of the options is chosen. At the beginning of the second stanza, the character states that he hastily chosen the grassy path, which, according to the theme, is unwise. The author seems to suggest that the character is very impulsive, but also adventurous, given that he wanders through the forest, almost aimlessly. However, as the story progresses, the character seems to regret the choice he made. For example, as the character walks, he begins to worry that the opposite path might have been more attractive or more aesthetically pleasing. This becomes evident in the third stanza, stating: "...And both that morning lay equally / In the leaves no footstep had trodden the dark." Oh, I saved the first one for another day! Yet, knowing how a path leads to a path, / I doubted I would ever be able to return. (lines 11-15). Understanding the character's feelings again strengthens the relationship between the reader and the character, making the author's thoughtful tone and solemn message even more compelling. The final figurative element that Frost incorporates into the poem is diction. This becomes important in the final stanza, as it reveals the character's regrets. “I will tell this with a sigh / Somewhere centuries and centuries from now: / Two roads diverged in a wood, and I-/ I took the one less traveled by, / And that made all the the difference. (lines 16-20). By using the word "sigh", Frost describes the character's dissatisfaction with his choice. In the poem's conclusion, the character, realizing that he has made the wrong choice, suggests that if the other path had been taken, he would have made the better choice. This matches Frost's tone as depicted.