Robert Frost A Road Not Taken Essay Example for Free

Robert Frost A Road Not Taken Essay Robert Frost ever timeless poem â€Å"The Road Not Taken† has spanned all time because of its ability to appeal to the basic and inevitable necessities of adulthood –making tough decisions and living with the consequences of said choices in the quest for happiness. Robert Frost used the symbol of two roads to show a young man’s need to make a very difficult decision. In breaking the poem down in terms of reading and re-reading the poem in its entirety, one can’t help but be immediately placed in the shoes of the speaker in terms of one’s own life choices. The poem begins with th speaker standing in the middle of two roads. The imagery used in the poem â€Å"diverged in a yellow wood† (Frost, 1916), leads the reader to believe the poem takes place in the fall probably when the leaves are turning yellow. He then proceeds to say that he wishes that he could travel both roads, but of course that is physically impossible. He stands for a long time trying to decide which road to take. He looks down the path in attempt to see where it leads. This is so symbolic of one’s own â€Å"paths†. No one of course can see the outcome of the impending choices that we make or are about to make. In the next stanza, he chooses a path that he wishes to take. â€Å"Then I took the other, as just as fair, Because it was grassy and wanted wear,† (Frost, 1916). Breaking down the story, both the author and thereby the speaker would have the reader believe that the two roads, in terms of their appearance, are both equally pleasing to the eye. But in the line, â€Å"as just as fair† (Frost, 1916), he wants the reader to believe that the two roads and thereby the two choices are different, but could be equally just as good. The speaker is still unsure as to which path he really wants to take. He describes the path as being â€Å"perhaps† better. Nevertheless, it looks as though it hasn’t been used as often as the other. Frost used the alliteration, â€Å"wanted wear†. This actually meant that it lacked used. The speaker becomes incredibly indecisive. Just when the reader thinks that the speaker has made a decision, he says again how the roads are almost the same. The phrase â€Å"the passing there† (Frost, 1916) meaning traffic, could mean people who are walking like him. We then get a glimpse into the time of day in which this decision making is taking place in the line â€Å"And both that morning equally lay, In leaves no step had trodden black† (Frost ,1916), and also that in the area in which he stood, the leaves that have fallen, have not been stepped on and thereby had not changed color on the ground. The speaker seems to poke fun at his need to make this decision with the line â€Å"Oh! I kept the first for another day† (Frost ,1916) He says that he will go back to the road that he is seemingly choosing not to take, another day. Here is another example of how this poem has transcended time. One always thinks or hopes that the choices that we make can somehow be undone. The notion that once we get to a certain point, if we for some reason do not like the way that things are going, the road that we are taking if you will, that we can always turn around and go back if our initial decision has failed. Then he seems to say just that in the line† Yet knowing how way leads on to way, I doubted if I should ever come back†(Frost, 1916). He realizes that the idea of coming back to this initial spot, is ridiculous. One never knows how one decision can lead to another and another and yet another leading us so far away from the first decision, that we would not be able to s ee from whence we began and essentially not being able to go back. The speaker moves forward in time; many years from the primary decision. This allows the reader to infer that the choice that the speaker is making or has already made, is one of great import, one that could possibly impact him so much that he will be talking about it for years to come. When the speaker says â€Å" I shall be telling this with a sigh, Eleanor Sickels is quoted to say that â€Å"the poem is about the human tendency to wobble illogically in decision and later to assume that the decision was, after all, logical and enormously important, but forever to tell of it with a sigh as depriving the speaker of who-knows-what interesting experience. (www.wikipedia.org. October 2011) As we reach the conclusion of the poem, the speaker repeats the first line of the poem, and now we know which path he chose â€Å"and I—Took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.† (Frost, 1916). The speaker has made the decision to take the road that few others have taken, one that could either positively or negatively impact his life forever. The conclusion of the poem does not however tell us whether or not the speaker was a failure or a success. It could possibly depend on whether the reader is a pessimist or an optimist. The theme of this story is choices. Frost uses symbolism and imagery to paint a perfect picture of how one generally makes decisions. In the beginning of the poem we are placed in a glowing yellow wooded area in the early morning along with a young man, forced to make a decision that will change him forever. Wow! The power of the pen! The power to automatically be beamed into a situation that is so reminiscent of our own struggle, is one that has been mastered time and time again, yet this poem probably has more meaning today than it did in 1916 when it was written. So many in the U.S., due to lack of money, experience, or drive, have been forced to make decisions that have left many only one paycheck away from homelessness. Did Mr Frost know at the time how much of an impact this poem would have on the world? Did he know that after almost one-hundred (100) years that he would be written about in terms of great literature? One can only hope that, with all of his many works, Mr. Frost knew that his poems and short stories would solidify his place in English literature forever. References: â€Å"The Road Not Taken† Robert Frost 1916 Bridgepoint Education 2010 Journey Into Literature R. Wayne Clugston www.wikipedia.org

The Discovery of Dinosaur Fossils in Antarctica :: Anthropology Essays Paleontology Papers

The Discovery of Dinosaur Fossils in Antarctica While working in Antarctica, two separate research teams with hundreds of miles between them each made astounding discoveries. They discovered dinosaur fossils. Antarctica has been home to many other dinosaur fossil finds but what was so special about these fossils is that they were from an unknown species of dinosaurs. Really what the discovery compliments is that the discovery of these fossils encourages the theory of plate tectonics and continental drift. Antarctica now is a baron frozen continent with little life. 170 million years ago it was a more habitable environment because was oriented at a different location on earth. The two new species of dinosaurs were that of a meat-eater and a plant-eater. The meat-eater was found on an ancient island the used to be covered by sea and the plant-eater was discovered on the slopes of a mountain that is 13,000 feet high but probably a riverbed at the time when this dinosaur roamed the earth. This discovery not only shows how continental drift and plate tectonics helped the dinosaurs move but also the discovery of two new species of dinosaur. These discoveries will help us further our knowledge of what happened to the dinosaurs. What the article seems to find most striking is the locale of where the dinosaur’s fossils was found. The fossils of the plant-eater date back to 170 million years ago. The scientists think that the mountain was probably a riverbed or a soft mound. It was not even close to the 13,000 feet that shoots up from the surface of earth almost touching the sky today. On the other hand the meat-eater who was found a rocky island was thought to be killed by rising seas. This dinosaur’s bones date back to about 70 million years ago. This discovery is so important to the scientific community because the plant-eating dinosaur dates back to 170 million years ago. This is when the dinosaurs first started to rule that animal kingdom. These fossils might prove to be useful in learning more about where and what the dinosaurs came from. They could figure out who they evolved from. The other dinosaur comes from around a mass extinction caused by an unknown object form space. By researchin g these fossils it might help us to see what happened and how the environment changed to completely wipe out the entire race of dinosaurs.

Luxor Cosmetics

Luxor Cosmetics Case Luxor Cosmetics is in a difficult situation in which changes need to be made. There a few items that need immediate attention. Per an evaluation of the account balance trends, their inventory only increases every year, for example: Lipstick’s inventory increase is about 20% per year; Nail Polish increase is about 20% per year, leveling out at $11 million in 2009 -2010.Their Creams inventory remains constant, since the cream’s market is a totally different concept, it does not follow a trend in innovation and changes so often as the other products. The surplus in inventory is a big disadvantage since; last year’s products may not be in style this year in addition to the cost of storage. For all these reasons their cash flow is less in comparison with previous years causing that Luxor Cosmetics keeps increasing their bank loans, creating more debt, making it harder to pay out as 2011.Some of the strategies I believe that may help improve Luxor Cosmetics shrinking market are: For example, improving their marketing strategies, by being more aggressive in their cream’s campaign, targeting the different potential customers and not limiting to the older ones only, but to include women from 20 years old. They also should take advantage of the fact that according to market research, during the last decade nail polish sales is significantly larger that lipstick.Considering this information Luxor Cosmetics can increase their sales by promoting new colors that change with the season, there is a large variety of shades, textures, colors and other trendy characteristics that can be promoted. Other important changes or strategies that should be considered by Luxor Cosmetics is to try to get rid of the old merchandise by creating an online discount web page, in which last year’s products can be sold at a lower price targeting different costumers with different needs and incomes.This way their inventory would decrease and their cash flow would increase. Also they should base their production in forecast analysis of demand, this way, they wouldn’t have so much inventory left from previous seasons. As a conclusion I can say that Luxor Cosmetics is on time to make the necessary changes to bring their business back to life. Innovation is the word that should be included in every new product and every advertizing campaign, they should develop new lines and new products, maybe even different packaging to impress their customers.

William Blakes London - 1458 Words

Blake and London Victorian London was a far from happy place. It was full of crime, the air full of filth, and the people rancorous. One of the premier poets of the period was one William Blake who advocated the beauties of life and railed against the distaste he felt for Victorian London and some of the more rigid ideologies of the time, specifically the strict morality and religious views of the English. In the poem London, Blake makes clear his position on the city and the morals of that place. He writes: In every cry of every Man, In every Infants cry of fear, In every voice, in every ban, The mind-forgd manacles I hear. London is essentially a prison to all those that live there because of the psychological dictums of that place. Blake was a starch opponent of what he viewed as outdated sexual morays. Specifically, he became one of the forerunners of the late 19th century free love moment. He supported the abolition of laws prohibiting homosexuality, prostitution, and adultery, proclaiming marriage as a form of slavery. His views are reflected in writings of other authors of the period, such as Jonathan Swift, Voltaire, and Moliere. Having said that, William Blake was also heavily devoted to his wife Catherine, and would not have divorced her although there were rumors that he wanted a concubine to enter their bed to conceive a child and carry it for them when Catherine proved incapable of getting pregnant (William 1). It seems that William BlakesShow MoreRelatedRomanticism In William Blakes London722 Words   |  3 Pagesof life utilizing subjective comparison between opposites, religious nature, and idealism. Although William Blake is considered to be one of the founders of Romantic poetry, pieces such as â€Å"London† deviate from the conventional characteristics associated with this genre. Ironic to generic Romanticism, London hardly idealizes the horrific truth of society in industrialized urban life. However, Blake’s lack of rhapsody does manifest the social and political climate occurring at the time when RomanticismRead More William Blakes London and William Wordsworths London, 18022496 Wo rds   |  10 PagesWilliam Blakes London and William Wordsworths London, 1802 The figure of the poet as it pertains to William Blake and William Wordsworth is different according to the perception of most analysts. Blake addresses a universal audience in a prophetic voice, taking the role of the poet upon himself often using a mystical tone. In contrast Wordsworth uses language specific to all and directs his writing to ordinary people writing as an ordinary person reacting to his own Read MoreEssay on A Reading of William Blake’s London1688 Words   |  7 PagesA Reading of William Blake’s London William Blake channels his general dissatisfaction of the organization of society during the late eighteenth century in his lyrical poem entitled â€Å"London† (1794). Blake uses vividly expressive language through the spoken observations of a symbolic character he created to narrate and recite social and political problems afflicting this metropolis in the late 1700’s and early 1800’s. The poem’s rhythmically patterned linear style, which is very strictly structuredRead More William Blakes London Essay example995 Words   |  4 PagesWilliam Blakes London Works Cited Not Included William Blakes London is a representative of English society as a whole, and the human condition in general that outlines the socio-economic problems of the time and the major communal evils. It condemns authoritative institutions including the military, royalty, new industries, and the Church. Blakes tone creates a feeling of informative bitterness, and is both angry and despondent at the suffering and increasing corruption of LondonsRead MoreAn Analysis of William Blakes Poem London Essay1852 Words   |  8 Pages In London, William Blake brings to light a city overrun by poverty and hardship. Blake discards the common, glorifying view of London and replaces it with his idea of truth. London is nothing more but a city strapped by harsh economic times where Royalty and other venues of power have allowed morality and goodness to deteriorate so that suffering and poverty are all that exist. It is with the use of three distinct metaphors; mind-forgd manacles, blackning Church, and Marriage hearse,Read MoreEssay on Analysis of William Blakes Poem London521 Words   |  3 PagesAnalysis of William Blakes Poem London London by William Blake is a poem characterised by its dark and overbearing tone. It is a glimpse at a period of Englands history (particularly London) during war and poverty, experienced by the narrator as he walks through the streets. Using personification it draws a great human aspect to its representation of thoughts and beliefs of the narrator. The author uses a rhyme scheme that mirrors the pace of walking. The pace is moderate using an octameterRead More William Wordworths London and William Blakes Upon Westminster Bridge1041 Words   |  5 PagesCompare and contrast London and Upon Westminster Bridge. Show how the two poets express differing views of London with detailed analysis of the texts and using background research. Refer to styles, techniques and effects of the poetry. Give your own responses. Both William Wordworths London and William Blakes Upon Westminster Bridge were written at the turn of the 19th century in Georgian times to illustrate the authors views of London. During this period the industrial revolutionRead More The Effects of Industrialization in William Blakes London Essay example1023 Words   |  5 PagesThe Effects of Industrialization in William Blakes London London by William Blake is one example of Blakes disapproval of changes that occurred in his lifetime. In his poem London, from his work Songs of Experience, Blake describes the woes of the Industrial Revolution and the breaking of the common mans ties to the land, which he has brought upon himself. He describes the Thames River and the city streets as chartered, or controlled by commercial interests; he refers to mind-forgedRead More Oppression and Spiritual Deterioration in William Blakes Poem London1154 Words   |  5 PagesOppression and Spiritual Deterioration in William Blakes Poem London London I wander thro each charterd street, 1 Near where the charterd Thames does flow, 2 And mark in every face I meet, 3 Marks of weakness, marks of woe. 4 In every cry of every Man, 5 In every Infants cry of fear, 6 In every voice, in every ban, 7 The mind-forgd manacles I hear: 8 How the Chimney-sweepers cry 9 Every blackning Church appalls, 10 And the hapless SoldiersRead More William Blakes The Chimney-Sweeper, Holy Thursday (Innocence) and London1520 Words   |  7 PagesCompare and Contrast William Blakes The Chimney-Sweeper, Holy Thursday (Innocence) and London I am going to compare and contrast three of William Blake poems, where he shows his feelings about the way people treat children: The Chimney-Sweeper, Holy Thursday (Innocence) and London. The Chimney-Sweeper is about a child who sweeps chimneys. William Blake sets this poem in the winter. The children worked in the cold. Blake says, â€Å"A little black thing among the snow,† â€Å"The little black thing