NON-AFRICAN POETRY
Comment on Frost's use of symbolism in The Road Not Taken.
The poem provides an insight into an aspect of the poet's life-struggles in his attempt to choose a career. First, the title of the poem is symbolic. 'The road' in the poem represents a journey with all its excitements and risks. It thus stands for something more than its literal meaning.
Secondly, two roads that diverge symbolize options or obstacles that the individual must confront in choice making. Ilk lie poet put it. Two roads diverged into a yellow wood, And sorry I could not travel both .. Thirdly, the 'grassy' end fresh surface of the one road is symbolic as it presents attractions (distractions) opportunities that are inherent in choice making. The terrain also symbolizes a new or virgin field yet to be explored: "... because it was grassy and wanted wear; Though as far as that the passing there had won them really about the same." tt is this type of situation that symbolically creates uncertainty about the outcome when one makes a choice. Fourthly, the traveler or the poet himself symbolically represents every man who struggles to make a choice of :weer or take a decision. Fifth, the morning setting symbolizes the beginning of the poet's career with a future beckoning. That he chooses one road keeping 'the first for another day!' also symbolizes the poet's open mindedness, though he entertains lingering doubts about ever returning to take the other road, since 'way leads to way'. Finally, the poet's conclusion that the road chosen has made all the difference validates the correctness of his intuition in spite of lingering fears.
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