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READ THIS
The poem celebrates personal choice, individualism and independence. It implies that once one has
decided on a road, there is no turning back.
The literal interpretation is based on walks which Frost enjoyed in the forest with his friend and fellow poet,
Edward Thomas. Thomas often complained they should have taken a different path.
ABOUT THE POET
Robert Frost was born in San Francisco in 1874. At the age of 11, he moved to New England, and it
would be there that he would attain his rural poetic flair.
He attended Harvard University, where he married Elinor White. His grandfather bought them a farm
where they would stay for some nine years and where he would work early in the mornings writing many
of the poems which made him famous.
In 1912, Frost moved to England where he would flesh out his poetic ability and come under the influence
of several English poets -- and also of the American, Ezra Pound.
In 1915, soon after the Great War began, Frost and his wife returned to America and bought a farm in
New Hampshire. There the poet spent much of his time writing and teaching. From 1916 through to 1938
he lectured English at Amherst College.
Frost was already 86 when John F. Kennedy was inaugurated as President of the United States of
America. The poet was invited to attend and to speak at the function. It was the final moment of an
illustrious life. Two years later -- in January 1963 -- he died from blood clots to his lungs.
Have you looked at the questions
in the right column?
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TEST YOURSELF!
Read the left column and then answer
the following questions:
"And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler."
- What exactly does the poet regret about coming to a fork in the road? (2)
[Need help?]
The poet has to make a decision about which path to take when he comes to a fork in the road in the
autumnal forest.
He is sorry that he is unable to take both roads as he is only "one traveler". He is unable to split
himself in two in order to travel both roads simultaneously.
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"Then took the other, as just as fair
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear."
- On what did the poet base his decision to take one particular fork? (4)
[Need help?]
Although both roads were very similar in appeal, one path was slightly more appealing: it was more
grassed over and it was clear that very few people had taken that particular path as it was not particularly
worn down by travellers.
He decides therefore to take the path fewer people had chosen.
It is important to note that the word "wanted" means "lacked".
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- Why exactly was that particular path more appealing to the poet? (4)
[Need help?]
The fact that the path was "grassy" meant that the grass had not been worn down: the path had
not been used by many travellers and that made it more appealing. This meant that the path was less
known.
The poet was feeling adventurous. He was displaying independence and individualism as he did not want
to follow everyone else. He did not want to conform; instead he displayed freedom of choice.
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- Refer to stanzas two and three: Quote a phrase and two clauses which make it clear that the two
paths the poet faced at the fork were very similar. (3)
[Need help?]
Stanza 2: "as just as fair" (phrase) and "the passing there had worn them really about the
same" (clause).
Stanza 3: "And both that morning equally lay" (clause).
Remember: a phrase does not have a verb; a clause has a verb.
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- What do you understand "the passing there" to refer to? (3)
[Need help?]
The poet refers to the point at the fork in the road where many others like he would have stood and
pondered the decision facing them: which path to choose?
This particular point would be worn down as many people would have spent time there, wondering which
path to decide on. The grass at the crossroads would be trampled as this is where people would have
stood, stamping their feet, trying to make up their minds.
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- The poet says that the path had "the better claim". What does he mean? (3)
[Need help?]
The path claimed or attracted more of his attention. It was the path he favoured above the other.
If you have a better claim in a law suit, it means you are more likely to win as there are more facts that
count in your favour.
The poet makes it clear that the path was more attractive to him and won his approval because it was less
worn by other travellers. The scarcity of other travellers makes it more appealing to him. It appeals to
his individuality and sense of independence.
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" . . . the passing there
Had worn them really about the same."
- Explain exactly what "the passing there" refers to. (2)
[Need help?]
It refers to the spot at the fork in the road where passers-by would have stopped to ponder their decision
as to which to path to take.
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- What had caused the wear and tear at the fork? (2)
[Need help?]
The spot at the crossroads would be worn down as travellers stood around, moving their feet, trying to
come to a decision about their future.
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"Oh, I kept the first for another day!".
- Explain why this is an example of the poet's wishful thinking / irony. (4)
[Need help?]
The poet's intention is to return so that he can travel along the other path some other day in the future.
However, we are unable to travel back into the past: once we have made a decision, we have to see it
through. We are unable to go back and alter our decision.
Once we have made a decision, our path and therefore our future has been determined. We cannot go
back and change the decisions we have made.
The poet fully intended going back to the crossroads to travel along the other path, but life does not allow
us to go back into the past and retake decisions. Once a decision has been made, we have to see it
through.
That decision will lead to other crossroads, but we will never return to the original crossroad.
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- Consider the title of the poem. What is the literal interpretation? (2)
[Need help?]
The poet refers to an actual road which has not been travelled on as much as other roads. The road
shows less wear and tear because fewer travellers have chosen to take that road.
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