In the line "And sorry I could not travel both", the word 'both' immediately indicates that Frost wanted to take both the paths, but being 'one traveller', he had to make a choice. The choice, it is clearly shown, was not an easy one "…long I stood and looked down as far as I could…"
In the last stanza the narrator seems content with his choice yet he tells of it with a sigh: not so much a regretful sigh but a speculative one, ‘I shall be telling this with a sigh.’ He is resolving himself to the fact that even when ages and ages pass, he will still wonder what if he had taken the other road.
There are many equally valid meanings to this poem and Frost may have intended this. He may have been trying to achieve a universal understanding. In other words, there is no judgement, no specificity, no moral. There is simply a narrator who makes a decision in his life that makes the man who he is now. It allows all readers from all different experiences to relate to the poem.
Frost chose what appeared like a 'grassy' road that 'wanted wear' but eventually realized that both the roads had worn out equally. This again relates to life in that when a decision has to be made, the choice should not depend on external appearances. The imagery created is typical of Frost. In many of Frost's poems, nature imagery is always seen. In this poem, the setting itself is in the woods, which provides the most stereotypical image of nature.
The title is of a very ambiguous nature. At first glance, the title could suggest that the poem is likely to feature around a choice one has to make. However, on analyzing the title carefully, the word 'not' in the title could suggest a longing for the path that Frost did not take or the word 'not' could also signify the fact that no person travelled on that road.
In ‘not my best side’ the poet challenges orthodox images of the characters in the legend Of St George and the dragon only to replace them with another equally stereotypical set. She has successfully manipulated them into modern day caricatures.
The dragon is obviously relatively well spoken, as he uses some complex words such as 'ostentatiously'. The tone created by this character is a combination of agreeable, friendly and pleasant tones. Therefore the stereotype created by U.A Fanthorpe is of a quite well spoken, chatty, pompous actor. U.A Fanthorpe creates new stereotypes, showing us that not all dragons are necessarily evil and vicious.
George is proud of the painting, which shows his 'latest model' and hi-tech equipment. He sees himself as a hero, considers himself brave and the rescuer of the damsel. His character creates an offensive, impolite and abrupt voice. The third monologue is that of George, the knight. He is portrayed not as the heroic figure of St George, but of a modern, technologically minded, self-obsessed man. In the poem, George is very boastful, e.g. 'I have diplomas in Dragon management and Virgin Reclamation', showing the stereotype of a young male.
The voice created by this character is very cheerful, not evil and threatening like in the traditional story. This voice is created by word choice, such as 'Poor chap', 'Literally on a string'; these phrases are not associated with evil characters, but more with high-spirited people.
The phrases used by the dragon portray how the poem is the inverse of the painting itself. The damsel speaks in the second monologue, and once again is not the stereotypical princess from the traditional story. She is portrayed as more of a modern, feminist woman, who is not enthralled with the knight.