The Other Road in The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost In his famous poem "The Road Not Taken", Robert Frost describes the decision one makes when reaches a fork in the road. Some interpret Frost as suggesting regret on the part of the traveler for not choosing the path he abandoned, as in doing so he has lost something significant. Others believe he is grateful for the selection, as it made him the man he is. The divergent paths are the symbol of the choices that society must face every day of life. Choosing one route will take the traveler in one direction, while the other will likely take them away, towards a completely different journey. How do you know what the right path is; Is there a right way? The answer lies within each individual, reflecting on personal choices as life unfolds, as well as on the attitude with which one looks to the future. David Wyatt writes, "Nowhere in Frost is the tension between surprise and anticipation, rebellious experience and the form in which it is projected or predicted, more acute than in 'The Road Not Taken'" (129). As one reads the poem, one cannot help but be drawn into the questions of which path will be chosen, how they differ, and what will become of the traveler. Perhaps some hope to find guidance for their own journey by looking for answers in Frost's work. According to Michael Meyer, "the speaker's reflections on his choice are as central to understanding the poem as the choice itself." (97) Frost himself admits: "it is a complicated poem, very complicated." (Package 10) In the opening stanza, Frost describes reaching a point during a walk along a rural road that diverges into two separate but similar paths. The narrator discovers that he...... middle of paper....... Online. World Wide Web. July 20, 2000. Frost, Robert. "The Road Not Taken." The poetry of Robert Frost. Ed. Edward Connery, Lathem. New York: Hot, Rinehart and Winston, 1969. 105. Mertins, Louis. Robert Frost: Life and Speeches - Walking. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 1965. 135.Meyer, Michael, ed. Bedford's introduction to literature. 5th ed. Boston: Bedford-St. Martin's, 1999. 97.Pack, Robert. "Frost's Enigmatic Reserve: The Poet as Teacher and Preacher." Modern Critical Opinions: Robert Frost. Ed. Harold Bloom. New York: Chelsea House Publishers, 1986. 10.Thompson, Lawrance. Robert Frost: The Years of Triumph. Notes. Online. World Wide Web. July 21, 2000. Wyatt, David M. "Choice in Frost." Frost: Centenary Essays II. Ed. Jac Tharpe. Jackson: University Press of Mississippi, 1976. 129-35.