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

The Road Not Taken

 Two roads diverged  in a yellow wood, 
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;       
 
Then took the other, as just as fair, 
And having perhaps the better claim, 
Because it was grassy and wanted wear; 
Though as for that the passing there 
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay 
In leaves no step had trodden black. 
Oh, I kept the first for another day! 
Yet knowing how way leads on to way, 
I doubted if I should ever come back.        
 
I shall be telling this with a sigh 
Somewhere ages and ages hence: 
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I— 
I took the one less traveled by, 
And that has made all the difference.       

♣ Read the poem carefully.

Choose from one of the following options:

1) You may choose to read the poem on your own--aloud or silently.

2) You may partner up with a friend and read the poem to each other.  

3) If you would like to watch Robert Frost reciting his poem, click here for a video.

4) If you are musically-inclined, you may choose to listen to the choral arrangement of Frost's poem. Pay careful attention to the lyrics. You may access a video of the performance here. (Music by Dale E. Victorian. Performed by the San Jose Symphonic Choir.)