Robert Frost
Both of Robert Frost's poems, "The Road Not Taken," and "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening" use natural imagery to illustrate the narrator's train of thought. However, the theme and tone of the two poems differ. In "The Road Not Taken," the narrator is caught at a crossroads. The poem deals with the difficulties of the decision he faces, and the mild regret that he experiences once he chooses a certain path. On the other hand, "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening" demonstrates decisive thought. The author clearly chooses to take a rest and watch the glory of the snow filling up the woods. Although his horse beckons him to leave, the narrator remains in awe of his natural surroundings and happy that he has had the opportunity to enjoy experiencing nature. In "Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening," the author also indicates that he has "promises to keep," which compel him to continue on his journey. In "The Road Not Taken," the author does not indicate any impetus to take either road and he has no promises to keep; both roads have something to offer. As a result, the author wonders what he would have encountered on the "road not taken." In both cases, the narrator is driven by fate: in "The Road Not Taken," his fate is determined by the path he chose that day in the woods, while in "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening," the narrator's promises determine how long he lingers.
In both poems, the author is deep in thought and ponders how his present decisions will affect the future. For example,...
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