A
Where is the speaker at the beginning of the poem?
In a yellow wood where two roads diverge.
What season is the poem set in?
Autumn
What does the speaker do before choosing a road?
He stands for a long time and looks down one road as far as he can.
Why can't the speaker take both roads?
Because he is only one person and can’t walk down both at the same time.
Describe the road that the poet choose.
The other road was just as fair. It was grassy and and wanted wear.
What does the speaker plan to do with the first road?
He plans to come back and walk it another day.
What is the meaning of undergrowth?
Small trees and plants growing under larger trees.
What did the speaker decide to do?
He decided to keep the first path for another day and took the path less travelled by.
What does “way leads on to way” mean?
One decision leads to another, making it hard to go back.
Does the poem say clearly which road was better?
No. The poem says the roads were actually very similar.
Explain the figure of speech in the line:
“And that has made all the difference”
This is an example of hyperbole the speaker may be overstating how important the choice was, or reflecting dramatically.
Explain the figure of speech:
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence
This is an example of Repetition. The word ages has been repeated for poetic effect.
What does the road symbolize in the poem?
The road symbolizes the choices and decisions we make in life, and how they shape our future.
What did the speaker feel about his choice?
The speaker feels that he made the right choice by taking the less traveled road.
What is the poem "The Road Not Taken" about?
The poem is about a traveler who comes across a fork in the road and must choose which path to take symbolizing choices we make in life. He is happy with his decision and thinks it made a big difference in life.
Why do you think the speaker stood there for so long before picking a road?
He wanted to make the right choice and was trying to figure out which road would be better.
"The speaker choose the less traveled road" what does this represent?
It represents individuality and the desire to take a unique path in life.
What is the message of the poem?
The poem is about making choices in life and how those choices shape our future - The author uses the image of a traveler faced with the two paths in a forest to reflect the human experience of decision making and the inevitable, uncertainty and regret that can come with it.
What can you conclude about the speaker from the choices he makes?
The speaker is an unconventional thinker. He likes to try out new options and has a taste for adventure
What do you think is the main lesson the poet wants us to learn from this poem?
That life is full of choices, and once we make them, we usually can’t go back — so our decisions really matter.