Understanding Poetry: Robert Frost's "The Road Not Taken"

The Fear of Regret

Some critics say that the theme is actually the fear of regret. They argue that "The Road Not Taken" is full of the poet’s fear.

Do you detect the poet's fear of regret in the following lines?

♦ “I doubted if I should ever come back.”

♦ “And sorry I could not travel both.”

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Whether it is the right path or the wrong path, the narrator fears that he will regret choosing one over the other. Don't forget to do another close reading of the poem to see if you agree.

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I know what that feels like. Right after I bought this pink shirt, I felt like I should have chosen the yellow one.

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I personally think that you made a mistake in not getting the neon green shirt. It would've matched your complexion.

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