I am STILL trying to find 3 poetic devices in the poem "The Road Not Taken" by Robert Frost:
Please advise if I am on the "right road" or could you put me on "the right path if I am wrong...
line 12 "In leaves no step had trodden black"--is imagery
line 19, 20 "I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference" -- is symbolism
line 1 " Two roads diverged in a yellow wood"-- is personification (can a road really diverge?)
Thank you for your help!!!
Ash
I agree with your take on line 12. I think there is no personification in line 1, but there is definitely imagery in there. Imagery is the poet's choice of language in order to create clear and vivid images in the reader's/listener's mind.
There is irony in this poem, too, and that is more of what's reflected in lines 19 and 20.
The example of symbolism in this poem is the road itself -- it's symbolizing the "road of life" or a person's "path through life."
Go back to those links I've already given you and look up those terms so you're clear on them. Then find the examples in the lines.
http://www.answers.com/irony
http://www.answers.com/imagery
http://www.answers.com/symbolism
You're on the right track with your analysis of "The Road Not Taken" by Robert Frost. Let's go through each of the poetic devices you mentioned:
1. Line 12: "In leaves no step had trodden black" - This is indeed an example of imagery. The line creates a vivid visual image of leaves that have not been stepped on or marked in any way.
2. Lines 19-20: "I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference" - This is an example of symbolism. The two roads are not only literal paths but also represent choices and opportunities in life. The speaker's decision to take the road "less traveled by" symbolizes their willingness to make unconventional choices which ultimately had a significant impact on their life.
3. Line 1: "Two roads diverged in a yellow wood" - While personification involves giving human qualities to non-human entities, in this case, "diverged" is a figure of speech called hyperbole. It is not literally possible for a road to diverge; it's a metaphorical expression to convey the splitting or branching paths.
So, based on your analysis, you have correctly identified the poetic devices used in the poem. Keep up the good work! If you have any further questions or need additional assistance, feel free to ask.