As we know, “The Road Not Taken” takes place in a serene yellow wood and the “road” symbolizes journey of life. When suddenly confronting a split in the road, the speaker must make a decision. In this particular poem, Frost pinpoints this scene to create vivid imagery of this calm, isolated setting in nature. Here the intentions of the lines, "a yellow wood” and "long I stood”, show that the writer sees life as an issue and it is his responsibility to face and unravel it. As we progress through the poem, we see multiple symbolic elements not only in nature, but also reflecting in Frost’s personal life. The interpretations of this poem are clearly endless, but rather than just focusing on the physical features, readers must dig deeper into the emotional aspects and relate them to the greater themes of isolation, loneliness, and retreat. A critical analysis of “The …show more content…
It proposes the thought that man must relinquish his desire for delight and rest to his obligation and work in life. Thus, “symbolically the poem expresses the conflict which everyone has felt between the demands of practical life and the strong desire to escape into a land of reverie” (Ahmed 662), meaning that some people are able to resist the strong attraction of “finding the easy way out” while for others, it takes a lot of pressure and doubt not to give in. This dark, winter scenery portrayed is yet another quintessential setting for one to be lonely and