Deceptively Simple in Every Way

The poetry of Robert Frost is widely read in classrooms throughout the country because students understand it—or at least they think they do. Frost’s poetry can be read on many different levels and therefore can be considered both very simple and, when examined more closely, very complex. Take, for example, his poem “The Road Not Taken.” When it is read with a straightforward approach, it tells the story of someone walking in the woods and choosing which road to take. However, when it is examined more closely, it can be seen as a metaphor for life. The speaker of the poem chose to “take the road less traveled” in life, meaning that he or she does not just do what everyone else does, but instead does his or her own thing. The last line, “And that has made all the difference” (20), means that the speaker has enjoyed life because he or she has not gone along with the crowd.

Another of Frost’s poems that can be used as an example of finding different levels of meaning is “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening.” When it is first read, it tells the story of someone who is stopping in the woods to admire a beautiful snowfall. Examined more closely, this poem also tells about life. It gives the message that we should slow down and take the time to appreciate the beauty of the world around us, yet still be responsible for the promises we make to other people. The repetition of the final two lines reiterates that life can be tedious, which is why we have to appreciate the beautiful things found in life.