Yinghe Zhao
ENG 1121
Prof. Scanlan
April 13, 20Â
 Explication of Two lines of Poetry from “The Road Not Taken” by Robert Frost
In the poem, “The Road Not Taken” by Robert Frost, what people are likely to face when they stand on the edge of a choice because life is full of choices, the choices we make determine the course of our lives. The choices we make have an impact on our future. If we make the wrong choices, we will regret it, but we can’t go back. So we have to choose wisely. The two lines towards the beginning of the poem: “Two roads diverged in a yellow wood” & “And sorry I could not travel both.” It seems to me that these two lines are the core of the poem and have a unique meaning. These two lines, especially representing the poem terms of symbolize, consonance, imagery, denotation, and connotation. While many people understand this poem to mean that people’s decisions matter, I think it actually about life is full of choices (whether it is the big choices or the small choices) and all the choices are different.
In the first line, “Two roads diverged in a yellow wood.” The poet uses one detail in the first line of this poem — “yellow wood.” And made it the symbol of the entire forest (symbolize). The use of a feature to define wood suggests one of the basic idea/theme of the poem: there is a decision to be made and a life will be changed. Consonance is found in the d’s of “roads” and “wood.” Using imagery, imagery is used to make the reader feel things through the five senses.The poet uses the sense of sight such as yellow wood, that helps the reader actually perceive what they are reading. The yellow wood suggests that the poem is set in fall. In the fall, the leaves of all the plants turn bright yellow. Acknowledging this “road” can reveal both denotation and connotation for the lines I selected. The denotation of this word is a wide way leading from one place to another; especially one with a specially prepared surface which vehicles can use. The connotation of this word symbolize the journey of life, a road forking off into two paths symbolize a choice. And the word “yellow wood” also can reveal both denotation and connotation at the same line I selected. The denotation of this word is any of a number of trees which have yellowish timber or yield a yellow dye. The connotation of this word is the yellow wood also evokes a fleeting sensation; One season will soon give way to another. This means that one choice/decision you make today will soon be replaced by your next choice/decision.Â
The next line, “And sorry I could not travel both.” The speaker only can choose one way at a time, telling himself that he will take the other another day. Acknowledging this “travel” can reveal both denotation and connotation for the lines I selected. The denotation of this word is to make a journey, typically of some length or aboard. The connotation of this word is which road to take? The speaker wants to take both, but this is physically impossible. And the word “both” also can reveal both denotation and connotation at the same line I selected. The denotation of this word is used to refer to two people or things, regarded and identified together. The connotation of this word is the choices/decisions.
1–Is the title of the poem and full author’s name provided in the first or second sentence?
Yes.
2–Does the student provide the two lines he or she will explicate?
Yes.
3–What poetry terms does the student examine?
Symbolism, consonance, imagery, denotation, and connotation.
4–Copy and paste your two favorite sentences from the students essay. Then explain why you like them.
“Using imagery, imagery is used to make the reader feel things through the five senses.” – This is one of my favorite sentences because I like how they define imagery.
“This means that one choice/decision you make today will soon be replaced by your next choice/decision.” – I liked this follow up sentence because they related it to the changing seasons.
5–Copy and paste two sentences that are confusing. Then explain what is confusing about them.
There was no sentence that confused me. I was able to convey what she meant.
6–Make two concrete suggestions.
Check for minor punctuation and spelling issues.
1–Is the title of the poem and full author’s name provided in the first or second sentence? Be specific if something is missing.
Yes, the title and full author’s name is provided in the first sentence.
2–Does the student provide the two lines he or she will explicate?
Yes, she has provided the two lines she will explicate.
3–What poetry terms does the student examine?
Symbolize, consonance, imagery, denotation and connotation
4–Copy and paste your two favorite sentences from the students essay. Then explain why you like them. (example: not only is this an example of the college sentence, this sentence highlights an important poetry term (metaphor) in a very clear way–I get it completely)
While many people understand this poem to mean that people’s decisions matter, I think it actually about life is full of choices (whether it is the big choices or the small choices) and all the choices are different.
This thesis sentence is well stated. Very clear using the “while x, then y” format.
“One season will soon give way to another. This means that one choice/decision you make today will soon be replaced by your next choice/decision.”
This sentence is great! It’s showing that the author was trying to do that and he seems to want the traveler to choose regardless of the fact he might feel regret.
5–Copy and paste two sentences that are confusing. Then explain what is confusing about them. (example: you may have mixed up the terms alliteration and assonance, please check to make sure you have the right term for repeated vowel sounds)
“The denotation of this word is used to refer to two people or things, regarded and identified together. The connotation of this word is the choices/decisions.”
The denotation of this word is to make a journey, typically of some length or aboard. The connotation of this word is which road to take? The speaker wants to take both, but this is physically impossible.
Maybe for connotations try expanding the ideas more?
6–Make two concrete suggestions. (example: expand the range of connotations rather than name one connotation; example: instead of using the verb “like” three time in the first paragraph, consider different varying the idea by using “love” or “can relate to”; example: when you revise this, change the lowercase “i” to “I”–Prof. Scanlan will definitely say something about that.)
Maybe try to minimize repetition in words and replace with other synonyms, so it won’t sound too repetitive?
Maybe explore more for consonance? Add on to the d’s you found in the two words?
Overall, you’re doing good on your draft. Nice work!