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The poem was written as a cynical comment about Frost's friend Edward Thomas who was unpleasantly bemused by it. Thomas was the first to not get the joke. It i
by mynameishere 18y ago
The poem was written as a cynical comment about Frost's friend Edward Thomas who was unpleasantly bemused by it. Thomas was the first to not get the joke.
It is popularly interpreted literally, as inspirational and individualist, but critics universally interpret it as ironic
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Road_Not_Taken http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Road_Not_Taken
Repeatedly Thomas would choose a route which might enable him to show his American friend a rare plant or a special vista; but it often happened that before the end of such a walk Thomas would regret the choice he had made and would sigh over what he might have shown Frost if they had taken a "better" direction. More than once, on such occasions, the New Englander had teased his Welsh-English friend for those wasted regrets. . . . Frost found something quaintly romantic in sighing over what might have been. Such a course of action was a road never taken by Frost, a road he had been taught to avoid.
http://www.english.uiuc.edu/maps/poets/a_f/frost/road.htm http://www.english.uiuc.edu/maps/poets/a_f/frost/road.htm
- edw519 18y agoIt is popularly interpreted literally, as inspirational and individualist, but critics universally interpret it as ironic I prefer the popular interpretation. I also prefer the opinions of civilians over "critics".
- dangoldin 18y agoThanks for this! You learn something new every day. I'm curious how you found that out initially. I'm more focused on quantitative fields and would love to learn more about the liberal arts.
- mynameishere 18y agoHis biography (one that's out of print now).
- JesseAldridge 18y ago"Though as for that the passing there Had worn them really about the same," Those lines always bugged me. They seem to run contrary to the rest of the poem. I guess this explains it.
- RyanKendall 18y agoi agree, i recently had this thought about that stanza that might give some insight. "and having perhaps the better claim/ because it was grassy and wanted wear" to me that means that like every person wants to go were many haven't... with the addition of "though as for that, the passing there/had worn them really about the same" i make the conclusion that because ppl want to go were many havent, the paths have worn the same because as soon as one path appears less worn, people travel on it. on that basis the two paths have worn the same. i have no experience with poems and im just writing a paper on this one and saw this post. hopefully my insight is helpful. take care.!