Sympathy For The Road Not Taken

Samantha Quiroz

Dr.Chanza

WRT 102

February 9th, 2023

Inevitable choice making

Have you ever thought back on a choice you have made with regret? The "Road not taken" by Robert Frost speaks of sympathy for being unable to be on two paths simultaneously. He took the time to analyze both paths to the point where he could not see them anymore, ultimately leading him to take the second path. By not being able to see the roads, the probability of the roads being the same was equitable. Frost tells his journey on the less traveled road; he explains that although he took the road that was not taken, he noticed that they could have had similar outcomes. He pondered whether he would feel relief for taking the road or doubt in the future. This poem

Frost says to himself, "and sorry I could not travel both-And be one traveler long I stood-And looked down one as far as I could-To where it bent in the undergrowth (Frost)." Relatively, he wished he could be on both paths instead of analyzing both paths first. The paths are meant to symbolize circumstances in life where the individual is left to choose out of their comfort zone. The author then uses pathos to express the great sadness his character felt using words such as "sorry" for being unable to travel both paths. These words give the reader a sense of regret that the character may feel. The author made it clear that his choices/ choices we make in life come with risks. Frost attempts to gather as much information as possible before deciding which path to choose. Frost's figurative language enhances the author's tone in reflecting on his

Eventually takes the path and realizes that taking this path has a benefit in some way due to the conditions of the path. The path seemed grassy/healthy; he insisted it had the desire to be used and walked on as if it could tell him. Although the narrator chose this path, he describes the unknown feeling of not knowing whether he made the right decision in choosing this path. It is impossible to know whether this path was used because it was his first time, so he said they wore the same. Using these metaphors allows the reader to interpret his messages in different ways.

In the following stanza, Frost uses rhyme to invoke the emotions of his readers. Frost reflects on the day he had to decide between the paths. Frost describes how the leaves had not blacked, leaves only blackened if they had been stepped; this indicates that no one has taken the path. While reflecting on the path, it is as if he felt remorse for choosing the second path and had hoped to return and travel the other path. When making decisions frequently, we regret choosing a path because we might believe the outcome could have been different if we had done things