LITERARY DEVICES

1) Symbolism

2) Theme

3) Imagery

4) Metaphors

5) Alliteration

6) Rhyme scheme

1) An object or word is used to represent an abstract idea.

2) Main idea or underlying meaning.

3) Image evoking words that spark the senses.

4) A direct comparison without using “like” or “as”.

5) Repetition of consonants to slow down rhythm in a poem

6) Is the pattern of rhyme that comes at the end of each verse

or line in poetry.

TERMINOLOGY DEFINITIONS

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THE POEM

1. Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,

2. And sorry I could not travel both

3. And be one traveller, long I stood

4. And looked down one as far as I could

5. To where it bent in the undergrowth;

6. Then took the other, as just as fair,

7. And having perhaps the better claim

8. Because it was grassy and wanted wear,

9. Though as for that the passing there

10.Had worn them really about the same,

THE POEM

11.And both that morning equally lay

12. In leaves no step had trodden black.

13.Oh, I marked the first for another day!

14.Yet knowing how way leads on to way

15. I doubted if I should ever come back.

16. I shall be telling this with a sigh

17.Somewhere ages and ages hence:

18.Two roads diverged in a wood, and I,

19. I took the one less travelled by,

20.And that has made all the difference

Which one to take is the question!

Analysis Stanza 1

1. Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, 2. And sorry I could not travel both3. And be one traveller, long I stood4. And looked down one as far as I could5. To where it bent in the undergrowth;

On the road of life, the speaker arrives at a pointwhere he must decide which of two equallyappealing (or equally intimidating) choices is thebetter one. He examines one choice as best as hecan, but the future prevents him from seeing whereit leads. In this stanza he shows his sorrow.

CHOICES LIFE / FUTURE

FUTURE / UNKNOWN

LIFE’S JOURNEYS

MENTAL SUFFERING

Analysis Stanza 2

6. Then took the other, as just as fair,7. And having perhaps the better claim8. Because it was grassy and wanted wear,9. Though as for that the passing there10.Had worn them really about the same,

The speaker selects the road that appears at firstglance to be less worn and therefore less traveled.This selection suggests that he has an independentspirit and does not wish to follow the crowd. After amoment, he concludes that both roads are aboutequally worn.

CHOICES BEAUTIFUL

ALLITERATION

Just as it is fair (Righteous path)

Analysis Stanza 3

Leaves cover both roads equally. No one on this morning has yet taken either road, for the leaves lie undisturbed. The speaker remains committed to his decision to take the road he had previously selected, saying that he will save the other road for another day. He observes, however, that he probably will never pass this way again and thus will never have an opportunity to take the other road.

11.And both that morning equally lay

12. In leaves no step had trodden black.

13.Oh, I marked the first for another day!

14.Yet knowing how way leads on to way

15. I doubted if I should ever come back.

REGRET

EMPA

THETIC

FOO

LISH

Analysis Stanza 4

In years to come, the speaker says, he will be tellingothers about the choice he made. While doing so, hewill sigh either with relief that he made the rightchoice or with regret that he made the wrong choice.Whether right or wrong, the choice will have had asignificant impact on his life.

PAST

HAPPY / SAD / REFLECTIVE

SUCCESS / FAILURE?

16. I shall be telling this with a sigh

17.Somewhere ages and ages hence:

18.Two roads diverged in a wood, and I-

19. I took the one less travelled by,

20.And that has made all the difference

REP

ETITION

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CLU

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HESITA

TION

TRIUMPH