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.


I noticed that the structure of the poem is ABAAB. Also, most of the lines have 9 syllables.

I appreciate the aesthetic parts of this poem. The rhymes flow smoothly and it sounds good having 5 lines per stanza.

Also, metaphorically, this poem does not take place in a real setting. Frost likely has a personal connection with this poem because, it takes place in his mind. This poem is really about how each decision Frost has made and does make has an affect on his life, and how it has lead him to the place he is at now.

Connotation: When I picture this place in my head and read the poem, it feels like this place is lonely, yet peaceful. It almost feels like it is meant to be that way.

His house is in the village though;   

He will not see me stopping here   

To watch his woods fill up with snow.   

My little horse must think it queer   

To stop without a farmhouse near   

Between the woods and frozen lake   

The darkest evening of the year.   

He gives his harness bells a shake   

To ask if there is some mistake.   

The only other sound’s the sweep   

Of easy wind and downy flake.   

The woods are lovely, dark and deep,   

But I have promises to keep,   

And miles to go before I sleep,   

And miles to go before I sleep.


I really appreciate the use of sounds in the third stanza of this poem. It's almost as if I can hear what is happening by reading the words.  By talking about the bells shaking, to the sounds of the breeze and the snow at night.

There was lots of imagery used in this poem. I like how Frost described the woods being filled with snow, the frozen lake and flakes of snow falling down, and the miles of empty woods. I can picture it perfectly.

Her hardest hue to hold.

Her early leaf’s a flower;

But only so an hour.

Then leaf subsides to leaf.

So Eden sank to grief,

So dawn goes down to day.

Nothing gold can stay.


I noticed the symbolism in this poem. It references the changing of the seasons as being like the cycle of life and death. 

Biographical Influence: When researching information about Robert Frost, I realized that he moved to Virginia for a period of time in his life. I can picture that this poem could possibly be set in Virginia.