1. THE ROAD NOT TAKEN
*ROBERT FROST*
The bestlovedof the Americanpoets,Robertfrost{1874-1963} wasborn inUSA. He isconsidered
“The Voice of America”,His poemsbeginindelightandinwisdom.
Robertfrost findshimself ata pointwhere the roadsplitsintotwo.He has to make a decision.He
choosesthe grassyand lesstravelledpath.The otherroadis more conventional,welltroddenupon.
Therefore itisa riskfree.Everyone goesforit.The poetrealisesthathe can’ttravel onboth the
roads.So, he keepsitforanotherday. He says that perhapshe mayuse the more conventional path
some time infuture.Butit isnot possible toslipajourneyafresh,itseemstobe acharacteristicof
Robertfrostto expressdoubtwhile makingarevolutionarydecision.
The strikingfeature of frost’spoemsisthe presentationof conflicts.Here conflictis
betweenthe rightchoice andwrongchoice.We shouldalwayshave the courage tochoose the right
wayevenif itis roughand thorny.The poemmakesusthinkaboutchoice we have to make inlife.
All of us reach a crucial pointinlife whenwe have tomake a rightchoice.That choice determines
our destiny.The poeminspiresustoface the challengingrealitiesinlife.
The chief theme of hispoetryisAmbiguousrelationshipwithnature.He isinterested
inthe paradox of life.The phrase “some were agesandage hence”referstodistantfuture.Here
‘sigh’neednotbe takenas regret, Mock regretis the characteristic of frost:may be it isa signof
relief orcontent.However,Frostisveryoptimistic.He looksintodistantfuture.
A small courageousstepmakesabig difference.Itcanleadto a great discovery,
success, prosperityorhappiness.However,the line“…….Andthat has made all the
difference”isnotclear.The poetbeautifullyleavesthistothe imaginationof the readers,
Ambiguityisone of the strikingfeaturesof Frostianpoetry.

2. THE SOLITARY REAPER
*WILLIAM WORDSWORTH*
Williamwordsworth{1770-1850} isone of the mostfamousof the Englishromanticpoets.He hada
strongaffinitytowardsnature rightfromthe childhood.Whenmanypoetsstill wrote about
ancientheroesingrandilognentstyle.Wordsworthfocusedonnature,the poor,common
people andusedordinarywordstoexpresshisfeelings.
The solitaryreaperbyWilliamwordsworthpresentsafamiliarbutstrikingpicture of apeasantgirl
workinginherfield.The poetseesthe youngbeautiful Scottishgirl reapingthe cornall
alone inthe field.
The scene isso enchantingthathe stops towatch the girl who isreapingandsinginga song
simultaneouslyitmakesthe poetspell boundshe singsamelodioussadsong.The whole
valleyseemstobe overflowingwiththe sweetsoundof hersong.The effectof the musicof
hersong isso intense thatthe poetgoesonlisteningtoit.He doesnot wantto disturbthe
girl inany way.
Williamwordsworthlisteningtothe reaper’ssong,recallsthe sweetsongsof the nightingale and
the cuckoo. The girl’ssongissweeterthanthatof the nightingale singingtosome groupof
tiredtravellersinsome shadyoasisinthe Arabiandesert.Itissweeterthanthatof the
cuckoo thatdisturbsthe silence of the seastoheraldthe adventof spring.
The poetfailsto understandthe theme of the girlssongashe isnot familiarwithdialeetinwhichthe
solitaryreaperissinging. He makescertainguesses.Possiblyhersongisaboutsome tragic
eventsof the past.It may be aboutthe battlesfoughtlongago.Itmay be some common
familiareventof the life.Itmaybe about some universal humanpain,lossorsuffering.
The poetsays that ithardlymatterswhat she sings.Whatis of significance isthathersongseemsto
be neverending.The poetlistenstohersong.Asshe reaps andbindsthe grain bendingover
sickle :he standsstill andsilentandcarriesinhisheartthe Echoes of the song whichwant
himfor long.Nowonderthe poetfeels mesmerizedbythe scene andmusicof the girl’s
voice.