Lesson Objective/s Outcomes: Robert Frost – ‘The Road not Taken’ To develop an understanding of the destination of ‘The Road Not Taken’ To be able to discuss Frost’s literal and figurative ideas. Outcomes: To write a short summary of each stanza To write a short comment on the destination of the poem – your interpretation of potential meanings.

Nature, Death, Fate and Futility Robert Lee Frost (March 26, 1874 – January 29, 1963) was an American poet. He is highly regarded for his realistic depictions of rural life and his command of American colloquial speech. His work frequently employed settings from rural life in New England in the early twentieth century, using them to examine complex social and philosophical themes. We will look at ten poems – most of them are from his early collections. The main themes that we will encounter in his poems are: Nature, Death, Fate and Futility Fate: … something that unavoidably befalls a person; fortune; lot: It is always his fate to be left behind. ….that which is inevitably predetermined; destiny: Death is our ineluctable fate. Futility …the quality of being futile; ineffectiveness; uselessness. ….a trifle or frivolity: the large collection of futilities that clutter our minds. … a futile act or event.

Activity One: I would like you, in your groups, to read the stanzas and write a sentence down that sums up what is literally happening in each stanza. Write your sentence beside each stanza in your anthology.

Lesson Objective/s Outcomes: Robert Frost – ‘The Road not Taken’ To develop an understanding of the destination of ‘The Road Not Taken’ To be able to discuss Frost’s literal and figurative ideas. Outcomes: To write a short summary of each stanza To write a short comment on the destination of the poem – your interpretation of potential meanings.

Activity Two: Blast Discuss the images in each stanza: Stanza one – Discuss each prompt and be ready to report back in three minutes. The significance of a yellow wood. Why is he sorry? Why does he stand and look for a long time? What might the fork represent?

Activity Two: Blast Discuss the images in each stanza: Stanza two – Discuss each prompt and be ready to report back in three minutes. What differences are there in the roads described? What reason does he give for his choice of road?

Activity Two: Blast Discuss the images in each stanza: Stanza three – Discuss each prompt and be ready to report back in three minutes. How does he describe each road in the opening two lines? What does this emphasise? He says that he ‘marked’ the first road for another day but doubts he will come back. Why might this be?

Activity Two: Blast Discuss the images in each stanza: Stanza four – Discuss each prompt and be ready to report back in three minutes. Why when he re-tells this story later in life will he do it with a ‘sigh’? What does he think has made all the difference? And what do you think that difference is? Do you see a sense of irony in the last stanza?

Activity Three – Interpretations. Two Statements – three minutes on each please. I will choose two people to discuss. Some critics see this poem as message to ‘seize the day’. Or, to avoid the easy route in life, e.g. those who dare in life win! How far do you agree? Some philosophers suggest that there is: ‘No right path to take in our life, just the chosen path and the other one’. To what extent does this poem adhere to this thinking.

Nature, Death, Fate and Futility Potential themes and interpretations? Nature, Death, Fate and Futility In your groups – come up with a short interpretation of the poem that supports one of the above themes. I will be asking all groups to speak and justify their ideas.