The depiction of life choices are seen through the works of Carl Sandburgs Choices and Robert Frosts The Road Not Taken and Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening.

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Patel

Anisha Patel

Pelizzoni

English 3 IB

March 21, 2012

Comparing Robert Frost and Carl Sandburg

The depiction of life choices are seen through the works of Carl Sandburg’s “Choices” and Robert Frost’s “The Road Not Taken” and “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening”. Both of Frost’s works exemplify the youthful aspect and experience of life contrasted by the old age, and more importantly, the fear that wearies life. On the contrary Sandburg’s poem portrays the choices of life that may be deteriorated by fear or age but is balanced out by the accomplishments that may come from those choices. In both of Frost’s poems the speaker is in situation where he has to choose from what he wants and what is right. In “The Road Not taken” the speaker chooses the eccentric approach to the choice he has to make, thus showing his inimitability and stimulating mindset while in “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening” the speaker wants a life without any fear or struggle but he has to abide by social responsibility. Where as in “Choices” the speaker is struck by fear and the reality from his choices. Whether good or bad, both authors portray the outcome of each choice, and the fear it may cause.

In the poem, “The Road Not Taken”, there is a decision that has to be made between two paths. This poem discusses the dilemma that a person comes to when there is a fork in the road. The road is a symbol of the options we have in life and difficulty people have in making those choices. As the speaker contemplates which road to take, and whichever one is chosen will bring good or bad outcomes. At this point in the poem the speaker is in a state of confusion  “And looked down as far as I could / To where it bent in the undergrowth”, by taking time to evaluate the choices the “less traveled” road is chosen. “The Road Not Taken” is an immaculate representation of the life choices that causes fear, hesitation or the hard way out for many people. “That has made all the difference”, this shows choosing the harder path relives the speaker, however challenges him for all the escapades that are bound to come. At first he considers both choices, but in the end choose the path that was harder yet less popular. The speaker does this because he wants to express his uniqueness and his ability to take a risk and accept the hardships or happiness in the future.  He says, “Oh I kept the first for another day”, but later “doubted if [he] should ever come back”. Thus the poem’s importance and theme lies in the speaker’s choice and his aptitude to move forward with his life.

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        In “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening”, the speaker has to make a life changing choice. He has to choose between what he wants isolation and what he knows he needs social obligation. At first the poem starts out with a subtle tone. Different symbols in this poem are the bad decisions cause harm and pain, however the better choices bring happiness. The author describes the setting and the speakers view on life “Between the woods and frozen lake”, the wood is a symbol of life and moving forward and the frozen lake signifies the end of one’s life. ...

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