Road Not Taken

533 Words3 Pages
Figurative language is used by creative writers to produce images in the readers mind. In the poem "The Road Not Taken" by Robert Frost, uses figurative language to express his ideas in imaginative ways. Symbolism, personification, and visual imagery are three major types of figurative language Frost uses. Symbolism is a figure of speech used to define something that means more then what it is. "The Road Not Taken" is about choices we have in life. In the first stanza the traveler states "long I stood and looked down as far as I could." (3-4) This indicates that the traveler was deciding on what road to take. Trying to perceive the better road. In the third stanza the traveler indicates that the road he chose made a impact on the future. The poem states "Two roads diverged in wood, and I--I took the one less traveled by." The statement in lines eighteen an nineteen is symbolic to the travelers decision. He did not take the easier road that others have chose. This statement leaves me with the image of a lonely man. Personification is also a figurative speech identified in Frosts poem. Personification is defined as a figurative language in which a non-human subject is given human characteristics. (Merriam) Stanza two line nine states, "Because it was grassy and wanted wear." The road in this stanza is given human characteristics, because a road does not have the ability to want anything. The visual imagery in Frosts poem is a highlight. Visual Imagery is defined as the use of vivid figurative language to represent an object. The reader is able to establish a clear image in there mind. The first line of the poem states "Two roads diverged in a yellow wood." (1) "And sorry I could not travel both." (2) These states provide a clear visual of a man peering down two roads the color yellow leads the reader to believe it is fall and the leaves are changing
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