Figure of Speech in The Road Not Taken Class 9 Beehive In-Depth Analysis | Figures of Language

By | January 23, 2024
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Here is The Road Not Taken, a detailed exploration and explanation of the figure of speech and its many facets.  In this post, we have explained various examples of figurative speech, providing a comprehensive understanding of The Road Not Taken in terms of all Poetic Device. We have also told the reason why a particular figure of speech occurs in a particular line. This is going to help the children of various classes Class IX. Dive in for figure of speech examples- 

Figure of Speech in The Road Not Taken Stanza- 1

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

1.Figure of Speech: Metaphor
Exact Line: “Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,”
Reason: The two roads are a metaphor for the choices in life. Rather than literal paths, they symbolize different directions one can take in their life journey.

2.Figure of Speech: Imagery
Exact Line: “a yellow wood,”
Reason: This creates a vivid image in the reader’s mind of a forest in the autumn season. The color “yellow” is particularly evocative, painting a picture of the setting in which the roads diverge.

3.Figure of Speech: Symbolism
Exact Line: “Two roads”
Reason: The roads symbolize choices and paths in life. This is not just about physical roads but about the metaphorical paths people choose.

4.Figure of Speech: Hyperbole
Exact Line: “long I stood”
Reason: This is an exaggeration to emphasize the amount of time and thought the speaker invested in making this decision. It might not have been literally a long time, but it signifies the weight of the decision.

5.Figure of Speech: Alliteration
Exact Line: “And looked down one as far as I could”
Reason: The repetition of the ‘d’ sound in “looked down” creates a rhythmic effect in the line, drawing attention to the speaker’s action of peering down one path. Another example is the repetition of sound ‘a’ in the phrase “as far as”

6.Figure of Speech: Metaphor (or Extended Metaphor)
Exact Line: “To where it bent in the undergrowth;”
Reason: The path bending in the undergrowth metaphorically represents the unknown future or the unpredictability of life choices. The path’s literal turn is a metaphor for how life’s journey can change direction in unforeseen ways.

poetic devices list in The Road Not Taken edumantra.net
Figure of Speech in The Road Not Taken Class 9 Beehive In-Depth Analysis | Figures of Language 2

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The Road Not Taken Poetic Device- Stanza- 2

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

1.Figure of Alliteration
a.Line: “Then took the other, as just as fair,”
Reason: The ‘t’ sound in ‘Then took’ and ‘the’ in ‘the other’ repeats, creating a pleasing rhythm.

b.Line: “And having perhaps the better claim,”
Reason: The ‘h’ sound in ‘having’ and ‘perhaps’ repeats. This adds a musical beat to the line.

c.Line: “Because it was grassy and wanted wear;”
Reason: The ‘w’ sound in ‘wanted wear’ repeats, emphasizing the description of the path.

2.Figure of Speech: Simile
Exact Line: “Then took the other, as just as fair,”
Reason: The comparison of the roads using ‘as just as fair’ is a simile, emphasizing their similar appeal.

3.Figure of Speech: Personification
Exact Line: “Because it was grassy and wanted wear;”
Reason: The road is personified with a human-like desire to be traveled upon, adding depth to its depiction.

4.Figure of Speech: Enjambment
Exact Line: “Though as for that the passing there Had worn them really about the same,”
Reason: The continuation from line 4 to line 5 without a pause links the ideas smoothly, conveying a continuous thought process.

5.Figure of Speech: Imagery
Exact Line: “Because it was grassy and wanted wear;”
Reason: The visual description of the grassy road provides a vivid picture of the scene, enhancing the reader’s understanding of the speaker’s perspective.

6.Figure of Speech: Ambiguity
Exact Line: “And having perhaps the better claim,”
Reason: The uncertainty in this line, marked by “perhaps,” highlights the subjective nature of evaluating choices.

7.Figure of Speech: Irony
Exact Line: “Had worn them really about the same,”
Reason: This line contains irony as it contradicts the initial appearance of the roads, revealing that they are equally worn.

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Figures of Speech Poem- The Road Not Taken Stanza- 3

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

1.Figure of Speech: Alliteration
Exact Line: “Oh, I kept the first for another day!”
Reason: The repetition of the ‘f’ sound in ‘first’ and ‘for’ creates a rhythmic effect, highlighting the speaker’s decision.

2.Figure of Speech: Repetition
Exact Line: “Yet knowing how way leads on to way,”
Reason: The word ‘way’ is used twice, emphasizing the progression of choices and decisions in life.

3.Figure of Speech: Imagery
Exact Line: “In leaves no step had trodden black.”
Reason: Creates a vivid visual image of untouched leaves on the path, suggesting both roads are less traveled and undisturbed.

4.Figure of Speech: Personification
Exact Line: “In leaves no step had trodden black.”
Reason: The leaves are given life-like qualities, as if they can be affected by footsteps.

5.Figure of Speech: Irony
Exact Line: “Oh, I kept the first for another day! Yet knowing how way leads on to way, I doubted if I should ever come back.”
Reason: There’s irony in the speaker’s intention to return to the first road contrasted with their doubt about actually doing so.

6.Figure of Speech: Metaphor
Exact Line: “knowing how way leads on to way,”
Reason: This is a metaphor for how choices lead to other choices and the ripple effect of decisions.

7.Figure of Speech: Hyperbole
Exact Line: “I doubted if I should ever come back.”
Reason: An exaggeration to emphasize the speaker’s doubt and the perceived finality of their choice.

8.Figure of Speech: Enjambment
Exact Line: “And both that morning equally lay In leaves no step had trodden black.”
Reason: The flow from line 1 into line 2 without a pause allows for seamless imagery and continuity.

The Road Not Taken Poetic Device- Stanza- 4

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

1.Figure of Speech: Repetition
Exact Line: “Somewhere ages and ages hence:”
Reason: The word ‘ages’ is repeated to emphasize the long passage of time into the future when the speaker will reflect on this decision.

Exact Line: “Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—”
Reason: The repetition of “Two roads diverged in” from earlier in the poem reinforces the pivotal moment of choice.

2.Figure of Speech: Assonance
Exact Line: “Somewhere ages and ages hence:”
Reason: The repetition of the ‘a’ sound in ‘ages’, ‘and’, and ‘ages’ creates assonance, which adds a musical quality to the line and emphasizes the notion of a significant passage of time.

3.Figure of Speech: Enjambment
Exact Line: “I shall be telling this with a sigh Somewhere ages and ages hence:”
Reason: The flow from line 1 into line 2 without a pause allows for a smooth transition, emphasizing the continuity of thought from the sigh to the future reflection.

4.Figure of Speech: Foreshadowing
Exact Line: “I shall be telling this with a sigh Somewhere ages and ages hence:”
Reason: This line suggests future reflection, hinting at the lasting impact of the choice made.

5.Figure of Speech: Hyperbole
Exact Line: “And that has made all the difference.”
Reason: This line exaggerates the impact of the choice to stress its importance.

6.Figure of Speech: Imagery
Exact Line: “Two roads diverged in a wood,”
Reason: Creates a vivid picture of a fork in a road within a wood.

7.Figure of Speech: Antithesis
Exact Line: “I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.”
Reason: Highlights the significance of non-conformity or unique choices in life.

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