Robert Frost is well-known for making nature a central element in his poetry. Nature was frequently employed by him to explore complicated issues and ideas, and his poetry frequently include evocative depictions of natural landscapes and seasons. Frost’s affinity to nature was most likely influenced by his childhood in rural New England, where he spent much of his life near nature. One of his works that made nature as its central element is his notable ‘The Road Not Taken.”

Despite its popularity, the poem remains a sophisticated and multi-layered piece of art that lends itself to a multitude of interpretations. I will examine the tension between the speaker’s desire for individuality and his awareness on the constraints of social norms, and the ambiguity of the final line in this blog post. By using deconstruction to analyze this poem, I hope to investigate the underlying inconsistencies and oppositions to shed new light on its meaning and encourage readers to engage with it in a fresh and insightful way.

Deconstruction is a literary theory that tries to expose a text’s fundamental inconsistencies and oppositions. It highlights how language is intrinsically unstable and can never truly capture reality.

Now, I’ve mentioned Robert Frost’s The Road Not Taken as one of the most widely interpreted poems over the years. It is believed that the ambiguity and intricacy of this poem contribute to its ongoing popularity, allowing readers to find numerous meanings and interpretations based on their perspectives and life experiences. It’s also most notable for its universal theme – making choices.

Here’s the deconstruction analysis to Frost’s 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”

-Robert Frost

The poem’s first stanza appears to describe a basic scene: the speaker is standing at a fork in the road, facing a choice between two paths. A deeper look, however, reveals that the language used in this verse can be interpreted in a variety of ways.

The term “two roads diverged,” for example, implies a clear binary opposition between the two courses. The inclusion of the word “both” in the second sentence reinforces this binary opposition by emphasizing the speaker’s need to select between two separate possibilities.

However, the idea of a clear binary opposition is muddled by the description of the woods as “yellow,” which adds a layer of ambiguity because yellow suggests that the two roads may not be exactly the same as they look. Indeed, the use of color here may be interpreted as undermining the binary opposition, implying that the two paths are more alike than they are distinct.

The phrase “and sorry I couldn’t travel both” implies that the speaker is disappointed that he cannot pick both options. The term “sorry” is, nevertheless, susceptible to interpretation. The word could be interpreted as a regretful statement or as a more ambiguous emotion, such as ambivalence or resignation. Furthermore, “And be one traveler” denotes a yearning for unity or wholeness, but it also implies that the speaker is now divided or fragmented in some way.

“Long I stood” denotes that the speaker is taking his time deciding, but it also implies paralysis or hesitation. The term “stood” implies a lack of movement or motion, which could be read as a criticism of the speaker’s passivity. Finally, “And looked down one as far as I could” denotes a desire for knowledge or foresight, but it also implies a restriction in the speaker’s ability to see the future. The phrase “as far as I could see” emphasizes that the speaker’s view is limited, adding ambiguity to the decision-making process.

In the second stanza, the speaker continues to describe his decision-making process as he stands at the fork in the road.

“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.”

-Robert Frost

The second verse begins with the words “Then took the other, as just as fair,” implying that the speaker has made a choice between the two courses. The word “just” adds a layer of uncertainty to this remark, though this might indicate “equally fair,” but it can also mean “only fair,” implying that the speaker has opted for a less ideal choice. This ambiguity highlights the volatile nature of language and the ways in which words can have various meanings depending on context.

The following lines, “And having perhaps the better claim,” distorts the idea of a clear binary opposition between the two pathways even further. The word “perhaps” denotes ambiguity, while the phrase “the better claim” suggests that the speaker is attempting to justify his decision to himself or others. Furthermore, the phrase “because it was grassy and wanted wear” implies that the speaker is drawn to the path that appears less traveled, but this desire is complicated by the phrase “worn them really about the same,” implying that the two paths may not be as different as they appear, and that the idea of a “road less traveled” may be a product of the speaker’s imagination rather than a reflection of reality.

The third stanza of Robert Frost’s “The Road Not Taken” reads:

This stanza expands on the previous stanzas’ investigation of doubt and ambiguity. It demonstrates, from a deconstructionist standpoint, how meaning is fluid and unstable, and how the reader’s understanding of the text can change based on the situation.

The first phrase, “And both that morning equally lay,” indicates that the two ways were equal, and the speaker’s choice to follow one over the other was random. The word “lay” implies, however, that the paths are dormant, waiting to be awakened or triggered by the speaker’s choosing. This implies that the roads themselves may not be as essential as the process of selecting, and that the poem’s meaning rests not in the paths themselves, but in the act of choosing and the implications that result from that choice.

The following line, “In leaves no step had trodden black,” underlines the idea of equal paths while also introducing a feeling of mystery and ambiguity. Also, it implies that the roads are unmarked and unexplored, and that the speaker is heading into unfamiliar territory. This adds a sense of risk and uncertainty to the poetry, as well as raises questions about the potential ramifications of the speaker’s decision.

The following two lines, “Oh, I saved the first for another day! / Yet knowing how way leads on to way,” indicate the speaker’s ambivalence as well as his awareness of the potential risks of his choice. The phrase “kept the first for another day” indicates that the speaker is hesitant to fully commit to his chosen path and may be contemplating other alternatives. “Knowing how way leads on to way,” on the other hand, underlines the idea that decisions have consequences, and that the speaker’s decision may have unanticipated and far-reaching ramifications.

“I doubted if I should ever come back,” the final line highlights the speaker’s hesitation and the potential ramifications of his decision. The word “doubted” signifies the speaker’s incomplete commitment to his chosen route and may have regrets or concerns about his decision. “If I should ever come back” emphasizes, however, that the speaker is aware that he may not have the opportunity to reconsider the said decision, and that he may have to live with the repercussions of his action.

The final stanza of Robert Frost’s “The Road Not Taken” reads:

The poem’s final stanza brings together the topics and ideas covered throughout the poem, providing a conclusion that is again, both vague and open to interpretation. From a deconstructionist standpoint it can be read in a variety of ways determined by the reader’s point of view and the context in which the entire piece is read.

“I shall be telling this with a sigh,” the opening line, underlines the speaker’s sense of resentment and regret, and suggests that he may be ambivalent about the decision they made. The word “sigh” denotes a sense of yearning or wistfulness, as well as the possibility that the speaker has regrets about the course he took. The use of the future tense “shall be telling,” on the other hand, shows that the speaker has not yet fully absorbed the repercussions of his choice, and that he may still be dealing his choice’s implications.

The phrase “Somewhere ages and ages hence” highlights the speaker’s melancholy and the notion that the poem is being told in hindsight. Likewise it underlines the idea that the poem’s meaning may change over time, depending on the setting in which it is read and the historical and cultural milieu in which it is situated.

The following sentence, “Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—,” highlights the idea of choice and the speaker’s need to make a decision. However, the addition of the dash following the word “I” introduces ambiguity and uncertainty, implying that his decision was not clear-cut or definite, and that other considerations may have been at play.

The recurrence of “I” destabilizes the idea of a cohesive, stable self, according to deconstructionists. The speaker’s self is continually moving and evolving in the poem, affected by the decisions he makes and the experiences he has along the way.

Finally, the poem’s concluding lines showed an example of aporia, a deconstructive concept referring to a condition of uncertainty or ambiguity. This is made clear in the line “And that has made all the difference” begs the question of what kind of difference was created and whether it was positive or bad. This ambiguity calls into question the concept of a fixed, objective truth, highlighting the role of subjective experience and perspective in creating our perception of the world.

The lens of deconstructive approach in analyzing Frost’s The Road Not Taken reveals an idea which challenges conventional notions of decision-making, self-discovery, and individual agency. By exploring the binary oppositions of the poem – such as “road taken” vs. “road not taken” and “just as fair” vs. “perhaps the better claim” – Frost highlights the inherent ambiguity and complexity of human experience. Thus, along the process, it reveals variety of underlying inconsistencies and oppositions through its use of language and imagery.

Moreover, the poem invites readers to embrace their own unique experiences and approach decision-making with a sense of inquiry and adventure. Rather than viewing choices as either right or wrong, Frost believes that each path has its own set of advantages and disadvantages, and that it is up to us to choose which path to choose. “The Road Not Taken” remains a strong and thought-provoking work of poetry that continues to appeal with readers today, because to its evocative imagery and subtle study of the human experience.

Head to this link for more literary analysis. Thanks for reading!