Modern poetry: Frost, Eliot, Cummings, and Dickey

Robert Frost "The Road Not Taken" (lines 18-20):

In the final lines of this poem, the narrator says some of the most famous lines in American poetry: "I took the one less travelled by, / And that has made all the difference" (19-20). Many have interpreted these lines as a celebration of individuality, but on closer inspection, it becomes evident that in reality, the narrator is lamenting that he has made these choices. Instead of following the path of others, he has gone on his own path. His conclusion is that it was this choice, choosing "the path less travelled by" that has marked the rest of his life. The tone of the piece is not one of self-congratulation but rather depression and despondency. He does not say that he regrets the choices that he has made, but acknowledges that his life would be very different had he made other choices.

T.S. Eliot "Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock" (lines 13-14):

"In the room the women come and go / Talking of Michelangelo." These lines from "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock" reflect the opinions of Eliot on the women who surround Prufrock. It is apparent that all the people involved are at some sort of social event sponsored by the financial elite of their society. These women, representatives of the social elite go around talking about famous artists only so that they can be seen talking about them. The women have no real interest in art, nor do they have genuine insight into works of art. Rather they flit about from room to room discussing an artist because they believing discussing him will make them seem intelligent. It does not matter that they have no real understanding because no one in their social circle has any true understanding of art or culture either.

e.e. cummings "Nobody Loses All the Time" (lines 24-25):

In this poem, the narrator is ostensibly discussing his unfortunate uncle. This man, Sol, has never had much luck. Everything he has ever attempted has ended in failure. In these two lines, the narrator explains how after the final straw in a very long list of failed financial endeavors, Uncle Sol eventually drowned himself. This is the way in which Uncle Sol was able to rebel against a harsh world which he had no chance of succeeding in. By killing himself, he was finally able to succeed at something. Uncle Sol was able to kill himself and end his life on his own terms, thereby finally achieving a success in a world where all he had known was massive failure.

James Dickey "Cherrylog Road" (lines 101-108):

At the end of Dickey's poem "Cherrylog Road," he wraps up the narrative of a disgruntled and angry young man. Unable to deal with the stringent nature of traditional society, he rejects the stagnant life and instead seeks out a life of adventure on his motorcycle. He restored the motorcycle to its former glory, like all artifacts which have been forgotten over time. The narrator experiences freedom like he has never before known and becomes drunk on it. This headiness from the mixture of freedom, speed, and the strength of the wind all work together to create a tone both of free spirited joy and the knowledge of impending disaster. His joy will undoubtedly lead to destruction. The cost of the narrator's sense of freedom will be violence.

"Birches: