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Kevin Boardwine
Dr. Joan Kennedy
ENGL 1302.P10
1 February 2011
The Traveler Shapes the Journey
In Robert Frost's three poems, “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening,” “The
Road Not Taken,” and “Acquainted with the Night,” he describes three very different
journeys. None of them seems as much concerned with where the narrators originate or
where they are going, instead focusing on the character of the journeys themselves. In
exploring the journeys as they are seen through the eyes of each narrator, we learn as
much about the ones travelling as we do about the way that they take. So who are the
narrators of these poems? What aspects of their character shape their decisions and
ultimately how we see the journeys themselves?
In "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening," the narrator stops in a snowcovered wood, far from a town or any farm (6). He notes that the man he believes owns
the property does not live near the woods, but has his home in the nearby town (3). He
seems a little uncomfortable stopping in such a desolate and cold place, despite the dark
beauty that surrounds him. Otherwise, why would he comment on the location of the
owner and the fact that he will not see him stopping in his woods (3)? Even his horse
seems agitated or nervous about stopping in such a remote place (10). The narrator takes
note of the stillness, mentioning only the sound of his horse's harness bells and the gentle
wind (12). The narrator hungers for the peace of the scene and is reluctant to leave, as
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though perhaps his daily life might be hectic or busy, and such a silent scene is something
he rarely has the opportunity to enjoy. Finally, he realizes he must go. Whatever
obligation drives him to make the journey in the first place is too important to him to
delay for long (14). It is already evening, and he still has a long way to go before he can
truly rest, which is a more important factor to him than even his obligation as he repeats it
twice (15-16). Overall, the narrator knows that while he enjoys stopping to smell the
roses, he must not linger too long and forget about his purpose. This traveler is wise
enough to weigh short-term enjoyment against responsibility and long-term comfort.
Unlike the narrator in "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening," the speaker of
"The Road Not Taken" does not seem to be in the middle of a journey, but instead
reflects on a journey he already took. The poem is told in the past tense as though the
decision was made some time ago, and the narrator is now looking at that critical moment
in his past as the one that defined the course of his life (“Road” 20). When he reaches
that unique point where he has the two paths from which to choose, he considers them
carefully before he makes his choice. Both roads are appealing in their own way, and he
wishes he could travel down each of them (2). The first seems clear, and he can see far
down it before it becomes tangled and the way obscured (5). The second has been
traveled over the years as well, but the grass has begun to grow over it, and it appears
none have gone that way recently (8). The narrator ultimately chooses the road "less
traveled by" (19). He is torn at first, but decides that he can always come back and take
the other path (13). As he starts down his chosen path, he realizes he made the right
choice for him as he says he doubts he will ever go back to the path he did not choose
(15). He is satisfied with his decision and speculates that even years down the road, he
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will still be happy with his chosen path (20). While he is satisfied with his choice, the
overall feeling is that the narrator recognizes that from time to time he will always think
back to the road he did not take and wonder how different things may have turned out.
"Acquainted with the Night" is told from a passive voice. The narrator is not
telling a story of a particular moment to illustrate a truth, but instead speaks in a general
sense, as though the journey he describes is a recurring event. Nothing, not even the
elements, deters him from his nighttime walks (2). He walks far and sometimes sees
things in the "saddest city lane" he wishes he did not (3-4). There is a feeling that the
narrator wants to be left alone. He drops his eyes when the watchman passes, trying to be
inconspicuous (6). Sometimes he hears things in the distance, perhaps indicating another
in distress (8-9). However, he does not consider the troubles of others any of his concern
(10). The narrator indicates the only timepiece he needs on his walks is the moon, his
"luminary clock" (12). As long as it is in the sky, the time does not really matter (13).
He wanders without regard of time or the troubles of others, wishing to be in solitude.
The three journeys are taken by three very different narrators, making readers
think about whether the nature of the journey shapes our view of the traveler or if the
nature of the traveler changes the way we look at the journey. On a more basic level, the
poems are about decisions. In "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening," the narrator
must make a choice between tranquility and duty. In "The Road Not Taken," the narrator
must choose between two appealing paths, which will shape the nature of his future. In
"Acquainted with the Night," the traveler chooses between his desired solitude and the
troubles of unknown fellow night travelers, such as the watchman and the one who cries
out in the distance. The narrators of "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening" and "The
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Road Not Taken" speak almost in parables, as though they are attempting to impart a
lesson to someone. The narrator of "Acquainted with the Night," however, seems
resigned to his choices and somewhat torn at the same time. He senses that he should
feel guilty about his desire for solitude as he ignores the troubles of the world around
him, but he does not actually feel it. The journeys of Robert Frost's poems are
identifiable to the readers. We all face journeys. We all face difficult decisions in life.
The one thing that makes every journey unique is the one who is traveling it.
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Works Cited
Frost, Robert. “Acquainted with the Night.” Making Literature Matter: An Anthology for
Readers and Writers. Eds. John Schilb and John Clifford 4th Ed. New York:
Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2009. 1416. Print.
---. “The Road Not Taken.” Making Literature Matter: An Anthology for Readers
and Writers. Eds. John Schilb and John Clifford. 4th Ed. New York: Bedford/
St. Martin’s, 2009. 1415-1416. Print.
---. “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening.” Making Literature Matter: An
Anthology for Readers and Writers. Eds. John Schilb and John Clifford. 4th Ed. New
York: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2009. 1414-1415. Print.