Comparing and Contrasting Literature 1

By Tina M. Blackson

Comparing and Contrasting Literature

The Road Not Taken and Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening Instructor: Michael Busk

May 19, 2011

Comparing and Contrasting Literature 2

Introduction Robert Frost was one of modern Americas most notable figures between the 19 th and 20th century poets and a four-time winner of a Pulitzer Prize. Not only did his writing shock, annoy, anger, and abuse in his efforts to instruct and create. New Englands Robert Frost remains the poet that critics love to hate. Although he was a pioneer of poetry, he writes with traditional rhythms and metrical forms and in the poetic use of words and inflections of word in our daily language. In his poems, The Road Not Taken and Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening both takes us on a journey through life while walking on the nature trail. However, both these poems have striking similarities and differences in their setting and imagery, mood and tone, and symbolism and theme. Even though these poems both have nature settings, they contain very different tones. One has a feeling of individualism and satisfaction, and the other gloomy. The setting in both these poems display similarities and yet has a different effect on a person. These poems are both made up of stanzas and diction, but they are quite tricky poems. The former poem is an option in life while the latter poem is death. In both poems the speaker is confronted with a dilemma where he has to choose between two paths in life. In The Road Not taken the narrator chooses the not so easy approach to the decision making process, however Frost displays his individuality and militant thinking while in Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening the narrator is searching for a life of peace without feeling the alienation and sufferings from society, but in the final analysis he realizes he has promises to keep and obligations that needs to be met, which reflects his responsibility towards the society.

Comparing and Contrasting Literature 3

In the poem, The Road Not Taken, in the beginning line is the focal point of the setting, Two roads diverged in a yellow wood. (Line 1) The narrator is expounding about arriving at a fork in a yellow road forcing him to make a decision between the two paths but he regrets that he cannot travel both (Line 2). He then examines the similarities and differences between the two roads; (Line 3) however, the speaker must decide which of the two roads he needs to take to reach his destination but at the end of one road he cannot see. The narrator wisely contemplates his thinking. He says, And looked down as far as I could / To where it bent in the undergrowth, by giving it considerable thought he weighs his options well and in the final analysis, chooses to follow the road not often taken by people or the road less traveled. Frost also reflects upon his choices, he feels strongly committed to whatever road he chooses to take will be permanent. The narrator sees a fork in the middle of a yellow color road. Two roads diverged in a yellow wood. The two roads and the path in woods are the focal points in this poem. The two roads symbolize the choices that the speaker has. When walking the road of life it is very different in ciphering out what road to choose to get us to our destination. Clearly think it through before deciding because you will regret it in the end. The path in the woods is a metaphor of the road that speakers chooses and also is used as an alternative to the choices we make in life. The Road Not Taken signifies decision-making is in essence one inevitably a part of a persons life that could offer them an easy or hard way out. No one knows the possibilities that are before them; if there will be happiness or sorrows. But the fulfillment of life whether it be happiness or sorrow a person has to take risk making up his mind about which road to choose because this is the first step towards those possibilities. At the end of the poem, the speaker says, that has made all the difference, which shows choosing the harder path gives the speaker the fulfillment he sought.

Comparing and Contrasting Literature 4

By choosing the more challenging path, the speaker declares his rebellion against the popular opinion as represented by the other road. He decides not to conform to society and takes up a less popular choice. When considering his choices the speaker displays a natural human response. He contemplates the similarities and differences of the two roads feeling sorry that he cannot travel both at the same time. He says, Oh I kept the first for another day, but later confesses he doubted if [he] should ever come back (13-15). Thus the poems significance lies in the speakers making a decision by choosing a road and moving on with his life. The act of choosing the road represents his uniqueness and the fact that he is always moving forward, even without stopping. Like The Road Not Taken, in Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening, the speaker has to make a big decision in his life. He has to choose between isolation and social obligation. At first glance, this poem might denote stopping in the woods to escape the hustle and bustle of city life. Different symbols in this poem though reveal that stop in the poem could be referring to death. In this phrase Between the woods and frozen lake, the wood becomes a symbol of life where frozen lake signifies death. When the speaker reaches the woods, he finds a world offering perfect, quiet and solitude, existing side by side with the realization that there is also another world, a world of people and social obligation. Both worlds have claim on the poet. He stops by the wood on this darkest evening of the year to watch them fill up with snow, and remains there so long that his little horse shakes his harness belts to ask if there is some mistake (lines 1 to 10). That little horses action reminds him of the promises he has to keep and the miles he still has to travel. (13-16). The speaker wrestles with his choice in the third stanza where he considers whether he should stay in the woods or not. The horse, on the other hand, is his connection to the civilization

Comparing and Contrasting Literature 5

and life. It is signaling the speaker, by shaking its bells to leave the woods and go back to where he belongs. Meanwhile, the speaker is considering going back but at the same time, he sees how nice the wind is and how it could blow away all his woes and worries. In the end, the speaker realizes that dark and deep wood and frozen lake (13-14), which represent death, is not his answer. He has promises to keep. He does actually connect to life and therefore decides to keep journeying on. He has many things to do; many miles go to before he stops. Presumably, the social responsibility proves stronger that the attraction of the isolated woods, which are lovely as well as deep and dark (13). Robert Frosts The Road Not Taken and Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening provide us contrasting and sometimes similar glimpses of life. The Road Not Taken is about taking control and living life. Stopping by Woods on Snowy Evening entails the desire for rest, perhaps due to the speakers feelings of weariness from facing lifes struggles. The poet also explains the tough choices people stand before when traveling the road of life. Sometimes people regret the possibilities of the road not chosen, sometimes people feel proud about the road they have chosen.