Contrasting "The Road Not Taken" and "Stoppinb by Woods on a Snowy Evening"....help

For reading and understanding poetry:

http://www.uncp.edu/home/canada/work/markport/best/study/poetry.htm

http://www.unc.edu/depts/wcweb/handouts/poetry-explication.html

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For writing:

Whenever you are writing a comparison/contrast paper (paragraph, essay, research paper), you need to plan it out very carefully on paper first.

Try this:

1. Write all the information about one of your topics on one page.
2. Write all the information about the other topic on another page.
3. Then put them together in this order:

1. Intro
2. All about topic A
~~~2A. detail 1
~~~2B. detail 2
~~~2C. detail 3
~~~2D. detail 4
~~~2E. detail 5
3. All about topic B
~~~3A. detail 1
~~~3B. detail 2
~~~3C. detail 3
~~~3D. detail 4
~~~3E. detail 5
4. Concl.

The number of details for each topic will vary depending on your main points. I would include comparisons (how they are similar) in the introduction and conclusion, but sections 2 and 3 and all those details will be stating and explaining how they are different.

There are two recognized patterns for writing comparison/contrast papers. One is casually referred to as "zig-zag,” but can be very confusing for the reader if you don’t use transitions effectively. The other is topic-by-topic (which is what I've outlined above) and is much easier for the reader to follow.

See http://leo.stcloudstate.edu/acadwrite/comparcontrast.html for further help with comparison/contrast writing.

Once you have organized your information, please repost if you’d like feedback from someone here.

When contrasting two poems like "The Road Not Taken" and "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening," it's important to consider various aspects of the poems, such as their themes, imagery, structure, and tone.

To begin, let's look at the themes of the two poems. "The Road Not Taken" by Robert Frost explores the theme of choices and the consequences they entail. It presents the idea of individuals often choosing the less-traveled path, metaphorically referring to the choices people make in life. In contrast, "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening," also by Robert Frost, delves into themes of isolation, contemplation, and the conflict between responsibilities and desires.

Next, consider the imagery used in each poem. "The Road Not Taken" employs nature-based imagery, such as the symbolic depiction of two diverging paths in a yellow wood. It portrays the idea of choices through the depiction of two distinct paths. On the other hand, "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening" utilizes vivid imagery of a peaceful, snowy landscape, evoking a sense of serenity and beauty.

Examining the structure is another important aspect. "The Road Not Taken" follows a consistent rhyme scheme (ABAAB), whereas "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening" adheres to a loose rhyming pattern (AABA BBCB CDCD), lending it a more relaxed and unpredictable rhythm.

Lastly, consider the overall tone of each poem. "The Road Not Taken" has a reflective and contemplative tone, as the speaker reflects upon the choices they have made in life. In contrast, "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening" has a more descriptive and meditative tone, as the speaker marvels at the beauty of the wintry scene.

By analyzing and contrasting these different elements in each poem, you can gain a deeper understanding of the similarities and differences between "The Road Not Taken" and "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening."