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If the poem rhymes, what is the rhyme scheme of the poem?
ababc dedef ghggh ijiij
Notice that the first two verses have the same rhyme scheme while the last two verses have a slightly different rhyme scheme. Again, the same rhyme scheme is used in both verses.
- What is the meter or regulary rhythm of the poem? (If it is available, listen to a reading of the poem to help you to determine this.)
Iambic tetrameter (Two roads/diverged/in a yel/low wood,)
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Discuss other sound elements in the poem such as pleasant, musical sounds or harsh sounds.
The rhythm and rhyme contribute to euphony; word choices add to the pleasantness, too, such as "diverged in a yellow wood".
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Where (if any) does the poem contain repetition? How does this support the theme of the poem?
The "two roads diverged" phrase is repeated in the last verse. It supports the message that the poet took one of two possible paths.
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Discuss the form of the poem. For example, how many stanzas are used? What form does the poem take?
The poem is twenty lines long and contains four stanzas. This is an emotional rhyming poem. It contains all the elements of a lyric poem.
- What is the speaker's attitude toward the subject he or she is describing?
The speaker is reflective because he or she is facing a personal decision. The person longs to try everything, but he or she feels slight regret at being unable to take the other road, "The Road Not Taken". The mood at the end is one of satisfaction tinged with regret for the choice made.
- Describe the mood (feelings or emotions) the poem evokes. What word choices develop the mood of the speaker? Who is the speaker of the poem?
The mood is nostalgic in which the poet looks back at a time when he or she made one choice over another. "That has made all the difference." No speaker is specifically identified, but the speaker likely is the poet himself.
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What is the message of the poem?
The speaker is confronted with two choices. Both seem equally acceptable - a dilemma. After he makes a choice and experiences the journey, he knows he will reflect on the consequences and how his life has been transformed.
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How has the poem's purpose been accomplished? How do the various sound, elements of imagery, form, mood, and tone develop the message or theme of the poem?
The poem "The Road Less Travelled" by Robert Frost is about two literal paths through autumn woods, and about metaphorical paths through life. "Two roads diverged in a yellow wood" refers to a "fork in the road", an idiom that means one must make a significant life choice that has serious consequences.
Frost may be referring simply to the season by using the word “yellow” or he may be referring to “golden opportunities” the speaker faces. Or, he could be depicting the speaker as a mature, older person who is making a decision. Whether the speaker is old or young, time is limited. This is reflected in the nostalgic mood of the poem. The speaker longs to try everything, but feels slight regret at missing the other road. This regret is reflected in the title “The Road Not Taken”.
The speaker in the poem seems to have seen only the short-term consequences of the choice, not the long-term ones. He or she “looked down one as far as I could / To where it bent in the undergrowth.” This makes choosing difficult and tricky. The leaves that are initially golden on which “no step had trodden” eventually will decay to “black”. Opportunities sometimes appear better than they actually are; people can be fooled by appearances. In the end (perhaps in old age), the speaker feels satisfaction tinged with regret over the choice made.
The poem’s iambic tetrameter rhythm supports the idea of walking through life. Its rhyme (ababc dedef ghggh ijiij) contributes to its melodious, happy mood. In general, this lyric poem is an emotional reflection of the power of choice and implies one will always carry regret over not being able to live out multiple choices and lives. Life is too short.
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