Frost begins with the metaphorical meaning as early as the first line with his reference to “…yellow wood” (line 1). The roads in the poem are merged where the speaker is standing but lead in two different directions signifying two different paths in life. The speaker is standing at a junction in the road pondering two choices. First Frost sets the scene with his opening words, “Two roads diverged…” (line 1). The first stanza conveys a mood of change and introduces the idea of a life altering decision, which is the basis for the poem. Frost uses a metaphor comparing the road to life, and the fork to making decisions.

Each line contains four stressed syllables. Then, in the last line the rhyme is broken with the word “difference” making the ending stand out from the rest of the poem. The poem consists of four stanzas, each containing five lines. The poem concludes with the speaker satisfied by his choice in taking the road less traveled by. He tells himself that he will take the other road another day, although he knows it is unlikely that he will have the opportunity to do so. The persona, who is believed to be Frost himself, chooses to take the road less traveled by. The poem is about the speaker arriving at a fork in the road, where both paths are carpeted with leaves. The poem “The Road Not Taken” by Robert Frost addresses the idea of decision-making and choosing what direction life will take you.

Metaphors in the road not taken