Respond to ONE of the following questions. Your response should include the following to receive the points in parentheses:
Respond in a well-organized essay. Your answer should be written in complete sentences. (16 pts)
(a) Define the term conflict as it relates to literature and explain its importance in narrative writing. Briefly describe the different types of internal and external conflict. Then choose ONE short story or poem you read for this course. Explain how the author introduces, develops, and resolves a major conflict in this narrative.
(b) Recall what you have learned about different genres, or types, of narratives and how to analyze a narrative. Then choose ONE short story you read for this course. State the author’s purpose for writing the story (to inform or explain, to describe, to persuade, or to entertain) and summarize the main idea. Briefly discuss the techniques the author used (such as figurative language or metaphor). Evaluate the effectiveness of these techniques in achieving the author’s purpose.
(c) Identify a major theme in ONE of the stories or poems you read for this course. State the theme in a complete sentence. Then explain how the author develops this theme throughout the story or poem through plot events, character development, dialogue, and other story elements.
(c) One major theme in the poem "The Road Not Taken" by Robert Frost is the idea of choices and their consequences. The theme of choices is developed through subtle hints in the poem's language and symbolism.
Throughout the poem, Frost presents the speaker at a diverging path in a wood. This literal fork in the road serves as a metaphor for the choices we face in life. The speaker acknowledges that both paths are equally attractive and expresses a desire to explore both. However, he is forced to make a decision and chooses the path that is less traveled. This line, "I took the one less traveled by," shows that the speaker is willing to take risks and make unconventional choices.
The theme of choices is further developed through the speaker's reflection on his decision. He speculates on what might have happened if he had taken the other path. The line "And sorry I could not travel both," demonstrates a sense of regret and longing for the unchosen path. This suggests that choices have consequences and can lead to feelings of regret and uncertainty.
Character development also contributes to the development of the theme. The speaker is presented as an individual who is willing to take risks and make decisions based on his own judgment. This characterization reinforces the idea that choices are personal and can shape an individual's life.
Dialogue is not present in the poem, but other story elements such as the setting and symbolism help develop the theme. The setting of a wood represents the unknown and the choices that lie ahead. The fact that the speaker stands at the intersection of two paths adds to the tension and importance of the decision. Additionally, the symbolism of the two paths represents the choices we make in life and the different paths our lives can take.
Overall, through the use of language, symbolism, and character development, Frost effectively develops the theme of choices and their consequences in "The Road Not Taken." The poem serves as a reminder that the choices we make can have a significant impact on our lives and that sometimes taking the less-traveled path can lead to unique and fulfilling experiences.