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The use of rhetorical devices in "The Road Not Taken" by Robert Frost

This is a rhetorical analysis essay on the use of rhetorical devices in Robert Frost’s The Road Not Taken. The essay explains the use of symbolism, metaphor, imagery and tone throughout the poem. The rhetorical analysis focuses on the choices and consequences as Robert Frost explores within the essay. The use of symbolism in representing diverging life paths, the vivid imagery that represents the beauty of nature and the sad tone of the poem are all analysed. These rhetorical devices all create the masterpiece that is The Road Not Taken poem. The formatting and reference style is MLA, where each line used in the analysis is quoted and cited by line number.

* The sample essays are for browsing purposes only and are not to be submitted as original work to avoid issues with plagiarism.

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The Use of Rhetorical Devices in "The Road Not Taken" by Robert Frost

Introduction

Choices always set the course of the lives of human beings. Every action taken, including the

most trifling one, determines the course that people cannot change or try to change. This

universal truth resonates deeply in the poem The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost. The poem

is renowned for the realistic depiction of the role of choices in being an individual. The poem

was published in 1916, and it provides the reader with the Poet’s contemplation about the

crossroads in life through a symbolic representation of a fork in the road. Through this

metaphor, Frost represents the conflict between individuality and conformity and the

ambiguity of human decisions. Symbolism, metaphor, imagery, and tone employed by Frost

help to raise the themes of the poem to a new level and focus on the meaning that is hidden

behind the story. Not only do these devices exemplify the problems with choice, but they also

appeal to readerly interest since readers carry out the work of deciding what the speaker

means. Frost composes an allegory that invites readers to contemplate the vane and

amorphous nature of some life’s choices and their repercussions that are nullified with death.

Symbolism: The Road as a Reflection of Options

Symbolism is used extensively in The Road Not Taken. The two roads symbolize the choices

people make in life. The opening line, “Two roads diverged in a yellow wood” (line 1),

immediately establishes this metaphorical framework. The fork in the road represents a

crossroad where the speaker is faced with an initial decision and between two practicable

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routes. These forms of symbolism remind the readers of the most familiar conditions of the

society which is facing a choice between options. Frost further develops this symbolism with

the notion of “the road less traveled” (line 19). As is true with many well-known phrases, its

meaning remains rather ambiguous though it is largely associated with the rebel philosophy.

Both roads are described as “really about the same” (line 10), suggesting that the distinction

between them might be insignificant. This blurring on the part of Matt is a compelling

thought experiment that has the reader constantly asking themselves: how free are we in the

choices we make? And the stories we tell ourselves about those choices? Through the use of

symbols, Frost makes people think about their decisions and about the further consequences

of some kinds of paths. The roads are the representation of life and the path that is chosen and

explain every person’s situation when he or she is on cross roads.

Metaphor: Choices as a Journey

The roads in the poem are used to metaphorically enrich the meaning of the poem. They

represent the roads people encounter in life. The line “Way leads on to way” (line 14)

encapsulates the interconnectedness of decisions, emphasizing how one choice inevitably

shapes future opportunities. This metaphor reveals the fact that life is determined by a series

of choices: a ripple analogy implying that life is a result of choices made. Another

metaphorical element, “I doubted if I should ever come back” (line 15), underscores the

irreversibility of choices. The last but not the least important note the speaker makes while

exploring a particular path is the fact that he will not come back to contemplate another path.

This forces a certain level of seriousness into the act of deciding in life, and the finality of

those decisions always weighs heavily. In these metaphors, Frost portrays the feeling of

making decisions and the result of such decisions that formulate a person’s life. The roads

turn into not only paths in the forest but the pathways in one’s life that can be unique and can

never be taken again.

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Imagery: Painting a Vivid Scene

In The Road Not Taken, imagery helps to engage the reader in the speakers’ journey and feel

the essence of the decisions made. Frost’s vivid imagery results in a tangible and a somewhat

symbolic scene – as is the nature of the poem. The opening phrase, “A yellow wood” (line 1),

immediately immerses readers in a natural, serene environment. The use of yellow wood that

is traditionally associated with the autumn signals change as does the changing of the

seasons. This setting is rather quiet, which allows turning the focus to the contemplative

feelings of the chosen speaker. Frost extends his imagery with the description, “In leaves no

step had trodden black” (line 12). This line paints the picture of a forest floor that is covered

by leaves that have not been walked on implying untapped potential. There are no footprints,

so it emphasizes that the decision is all theirs in front of an unspecified choice. These images

translate the confrontation of the PC and ambiguous choice, for which the speaker has no

model. In addition to creating a clear image, Frost effectively uses literary elements to give

the readers something familiar by which to understand the poem’s overarching themes. The

yellow wood and untrodden leaves symbolize the expression of life’s alternatives and a way

of revealing a television show’s inherent ambiguity that concerns people.

Tone: Reflection and Ambiguity

It is easy to see that the tone of The Road Not Taken is rather sad, while at the same time

being fully accepting of which way has been taken, as well as that decision is rather typical to

feel after making a big decision in one’s life. This less definitively cynical tone encourages

readers to investigate the dodgy vagueness of the speaker’s musings in a way that enriches

the thematic discoveries of choice. The line “I shall be telling this with a sigh” (line 16)

encapsulates the complexity of the speaker’s emotions. It could be satisfaction or regret or

both, all ending in a sigh, and the readers are left with the feeling of doing as the speaker

feels. It is such an attentiveness to the conditions under which decisions are made and the

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capacity to accommodate paradox and ambivalence that I believe this allows for an exacting

portrayal of the complexity of decisions as they are played out in real life. The final line,

“And that has made all the difference” (line 20), further amplifies the poem’s enigmatic tone.

Although this statement made it seem as though there was a big difference in preference, it

does not describe whether it was for or against the speaker. The openness of the ending

reflects the essence of life decisions, and one can never be quite sure of their outcome.

Because Frost has successfully opted for the sentiment somewhere between nostalgia and

gloom, his narrative evokes a direct response from readers, illustrating the moral subtleties of

changes’ impact. This reflective quality guarantees that the poem is never out of date, never

outdated and can thus be interpreted in many ways by users.

Conclusion

The speaker in Robert Frost’s The Road Not Taken employs various rhetoric to turn a story of

selecting a route into a reflection on the essence of decision making. Frost uses more concrete

images of the burden of decision making while the reflective and ambiguous feeling tone

contributes to the ponderous feeling of the speaker. So did Frost introduce autobiographical

elements into his poem by combining symbolism, metaphor, imagery and tone, so as to

produce an eternal discourse on freedom, personality and accountability. All these rhetorical

appeals contribute to the creation of the poem’s meaning and guarantee the poem’s ad interim

significance. Frost influences the reader's choice and personal analysis and appreciation of

the reality that life offers.

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Work Cited

Frost, Robert. The Road Not Taken. 1916.

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Academic level:

Undergraduate 1-2

Type of paper:

Rhetorical analysis

Discipline:

English

Citation:

MLA

Pages:

5 (1279 words)

Spacing:

Double