Robert Frost was an American poet known for depicting realistic New England life through familiar language. He won four Pulitzer Prizes and spoke at JFK's 1961 inauguration. The poem "The Road Not Taken" describes two roads diverging in a yellow wood. The speaker cannot travel both so must choose one. Though the roads appear equally worn, the speaker chooses the less traveled road, doubting they will ever return to see where the other leads. This choice to take the road less traveled has made all the difference.

1. THE ROAD NOT
TAKEN

2.  Robert Frost was an American poet who
depicted realistic New England life
through language and situations familiar
to the common man. He won four Pulitzer
Prizes for his work and spoke at John F.
Kennedy's 1961 inauguration.
 He died of complications from prostate
surgery on January 29, 1963.

3. 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.

4. COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS
1. Do you think the road in this poem is an appropriate metaphor for life?
Explain your answer.
2. Why doesn’t the speaker think he’ll ever go back and travel down the other
road?
3. What choices have you made that made an impact on your life?
4. Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
What does this line mean to you? Have you ever made any choices that are less
traveled?
5. What is the message of the poem?

5. ACTIVITY #2
Write an organized paragraph describing a major decision you have
made in the past and how that decision affected your life. The use
of a 4-point grading rubric will give you a clear understanding of
the paragraph. Use the following criteria in grading:
• The decision is clearly stated.
• A reason for making the decision is included.
• The impact of the decision is explained.
• Paragraph is organized and logical.
• Grammar and spelling are used correctly