The Road Not Taken

1. Frost’s poem says, “way leads on to way” (Line 14), meaning that one decision or path tends to lead to another. Create a “Choose Your Own Adventure” activity to illustrate this concept.

First pick a concept that involves a series of decisions a person must make (for example, journeying through a fantasy world to reach a treasure, making it through a day at school, or designing a house/room/castle). Use your imagination when choosing your concept! You must be able to incorporate several points of decision-making in order for the player to reach an objective.

• Create a map, small “book,” poster, or other illustration for the player to follow as they make decisions. You can do this on paper, or with a graphic design website such as Canva.
• Create a brief introductory storyline to give the player context for his or her decisions. This introduction should outline the setting, objective, and situation before presenting the player with his or her first decision between two options.
• Depending on the player’s decision, send him or her to the next decision (for example, a particular page in your “book” or a different location on your map). At that location, present the player with more contextual storyline information if necessary, and another crossroads. Each decision should branch off in two difference directions, depending on what the player chooses.

Continue until you have created at least 3 points of decision for the player. You may choose to create multiple ending points, or use different decisions to lead to the same outcome. Add relevant drawings, photos, and other artistic elements to your illustration. Trade your illustration, map, or book with classmates’ activities, and work your way through their creations.

2. Robert Frost straddled the intersection between the Victorian Age of poetry and the Modern Age of poetry. Victorian Age poetry was characterized by a strict adherence to lyrical rhythm and rhyme schemes, the exploration of wisdom, and straightforward advice for living a moral life. In contrast, Modernist poetry sought to deconstruct poetic form. It was characterized by pessimism about the state of humanity, and instead of offering simple and practical insights for life, put forth intricate arguments that questioned the purpose and meaning of life. See these definitions of Victorianism and Modernism for more details.

Read “Invictus” by William Ernest Henley as an example of Victorian Age poetry, and write down five elements of the poem (themes, symbols, form, tone, word choice, etc.) that align with the conventions of Victorian poetry.

Next, read “Morning at the Window” by T.S. Eliot as an example of Modernist poetry, and write down five elements of the poem that align with the conventions of Modern Age Poetry.

Finally, analyze “The Road Not Taken” for its Victorian and Modernist qualities. Create a T chart, with one side labeled “Victorian” and the other labeled “Modernist.” Write down specific lines, ideas, and literary devices that exemplify either Victorian or Modernist poetry, respectively.

Discuss your list with a partner, and compare your findings. Answer the following questions both with a partner, and as a class:

• How does Frost’s poem exemplify both Victorianism and Modernism?
• Does he lean farther to one side or the other? In other words, does the poem seem more like a Victorian piece or a Modernist piece?
• Why might he have chosen to blend the two styles rather than adhering to one or the other?