Robert Frost's "The Road Not Taken"

As I grow older,I am 71,I find myself looking back at my life with more than a few regrets.Missed chances,lost love and sadness that I didn`t tell more people that I loved them.The correct interpretation has made me realise that had I taken the other path things might have turned out very badly and I should be grateful and more aware of how lucky I have been.

This is perhaps the best lecture on a poem I have come across on Youtube. I regularly come back to it. The lecturer is a true master of his art.

I've watched several lectures on American poetry from esteemed universities such as Harvard and Yale, and this lecture is, in my opinion, the best one of any kind on poetry anywhere on the internet. Professor Murphy is discussing the virtues of Frost with no pretense, no technological interruptions or interfaces such as--ugh!--PowerPoint, and with total organization and clarity of purpose. he conveys more about poetry in 22 minutes than many professors do in an entire semester. (He actually reads the poem being discussed, which by the way, almost no other online lecturers bother to do before discussing it, which is so very odd to me.) This is how a lecture should be. Would that it were required viewing for all poetry professors before they ever teach their first class. Well done!

This is amazing. Prof. Murphy has absolutely change the whole course of the poem that i was having about the poem for like last five years. BRILLIANT!

I think this poem was written in this way to make the one reading it analyze their own choices. We all have choices to make and live with. For me, he sounds as if he is deciding if he made the right choice and at the end when he says, "and that has made all the difference", he becomes certain that it was his best choice.

Great poem… great lecture! Over the years, I have watched this many-many times and always loved it. Even if Robert Frost did not intend the darker interpretation, the fact is that it truly captures the reality of life. Thank you Professor Murphy and thank you to whoever posted it online for all of us.

And then he ends with "And that has made all the difference." Note, he says that this is the story he will tell someday. He isn't telling us that story now. He told it honestly. He started to say that one was grassier, but then said, no, not really, they were about the same. He looked down the other a long time before he turned away. But it was a toss up. It didn't matter what road, but later he says, he'll claim it did. The truth is the difference was in him all the time, not in which road.

I have taken several classes with Professor Murphy. I think he is honestly one of the best Professors I have had the privledge of working with, and I have worked with many very good ones. He has complete command of his fields of specialty, and is an excellent teacher. He brings a lot to his classes, and I took a lot away from them.

I think this poem is a perfect illustration of the paradox of choice

Besides the amazing Robert Frost's poetry. The professor did a amazing explanation.

I watch this video every year and it reveals to me new insights every-time. Thank you for putting this online because to have the privilege to hear this professor is an extraordinary honour in itself. Love the video. Wish I was his student and could hear him live.

This is what makes this poem so amazing, a close reading of it shows that it does not say what we want it to say. We want it to say, like Frank Sinatra, "I did it my way." A close reading shows that he regrets the road "not taken," because he looked down it a long time, and names the poem after the one he did not take. And the poem says that both roads were worn "about the same," and that the other appeared "just as fair." So those last lines are a tall tale told by an old man, long after.

One of the greatest lectures I have ever heard!

This is fabulous! I have finally found someone who agrees with me on the poem. I will be showing this to my high school English class. Thank you.

About critics: Robert Frost surely knew, "never argue with critics, they will drag you down to their level and beat you with experience."

Thank you Mr.Kevin Murphy for such amazing and thoughtful lecture..Hard and artistic presentation

most convincing explanation. fits well with the experiences in the walk of life ..

It’s about his best friend Edward Thomas who would always question the path they took along their walks in England. So, to some extent this poem is about Frost making fun of his BFF is jest. The sad part is that this is what would provoke Thomas to join the war. And that it would ultimately cause him to leave his wife and three children because he was killed in the war.

Amazing lecture. Very strong, very interesting dissection of the poem, lots of reading in between the lines, lots of good points, and one that definitely makes you think. Bravo!

When you grow older you will appreciate watching a lecture like this and knowing that you won't be tested or have to write a paper about it... now I must start my paper on Robert Frost... damn lol