Compare and Contrast of The Zode in the Rode by Dr.

Seuss and The Road Not Taken by

Robert Frost


Constantly throughout life, a person encounters the difficult task of decision-making.
Some decisions are made without notice while others are deeply analyzed before taking
action. Such decisions that require deep scrutiny tend to be the most important ones; it is a
decision that shapes a persons future. For example: the decision of going to college or
decision of getting married. These questions require answers, answers that involve deep
inquiry from the person. The Zode in the Road by Dr. Seuss and The Road Not Taken by
Robert Frost display the common theme of making tough choices. Even though, they
present a common theme, Dr. Seuss portrays a more simplistic view and the characters
opt to go through the safety path. On the other hand, Robert Frost depicts how one
decision has made all the difference through his life. Overall, the main theme these two
poems focus on is the struggle of decisions.
The Zode in the Road and The Road Not Taken have various similarities. The most
obvious resemblance found is the theme these two poems share, the situation of making
choices. The main theme of each poem is the difficulty of decision-making. Taking a
decision alone and separated from the rest. They each are alone without knowing what
each path would lead to. They both depict either the character or the poet himself in a
desolate situation. And be one traveler, long I stood/ And looked down one as far as I
could, (Frost, 1920, 3-4). Did I ever tell you about the young Zode,/ who came to two
signs at the fork of the road? (Seuss, n.d, 1-2). Also, in both cases, the characters tried to
look ahead of each road, a clear metaphor to the act of predicting the results of any of the
two decisions. At the same time, both of these characters seem undecided on which path
to trek. They are constantly noncommittal and they take large amounts of time to decide.
And for 36 hours and a half that poor Zode/ Made starts and made stops at the fork of the
road. (Seuss, n.d, 28-29). And be one traveler, long I stood (Frost, 1920, 3). An
additional similarity is the attitude of the speaker. The speaker in both cases has an
attitude of a storyteller. Each poem begins with the author giving an introduction to the
setting. Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, (Frost, 1920, 1). Did I ever tell you about
the young Zode,/ who came to two signs at the fork of the road? (Seuss, n.d, 1-2). Due to
these facts, both of these poems can compared as having similar morals and topics.
Aside from the similarities, these poems also contain certain differences. The Zode
in the Road by Dr. Seuss has its topic explicitly shown with the title. Following Dr. Seuss
straightforward style, the poem narrates from a third person view the story of a Zode who
found himself at a dividing road. The interesting twist during this story is the fact that the
Zode decided to opt for the safest path, going in both roads, a decision that never got him
anywhere. Then he got an idea that was wonderfully bright! / Play Safe, cried the Zode. I'll
play safe. I'm no dunce! (Seuss, n.d, 24-25). Of course, this entire poem becomes an
allegory for real life. Never taking chances will lead nowhere; a person will stay in the same
situation if no decision is taken.
On the other hand, The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost is narrating about a past
event. Through the beginning of the poem, we find ourselves in similar situations as The
Zode in The Road. We find the narrator in the peaceful wood surrounded by nature and in
a track dividing by two. Yet, The Road Not Taken focuses in the lack of human interactions
with the environment. And both that morning equally lay/In leaves no step had trodden
black. (Frost, 1920, 11-12). Robert Frost common theme of nature is found throughout the
poem. Nature gains a role through poem, it depicts the emptiness of the environment, how
the character seems so lonely. Furthermore, this poem varies from Dr. Seuss in that there
is a shift in the entire poem at the last stanza. Suddenly the author changes from narrating
the story to reflecting upon it. 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. (Frost, 1920, 16-20). The author suddenly changes of tense
and reflects on the road he decided. How his choice he regrets and has made him different
from the common people. It can be inferred he became an outcast.
Both The Zode in the Road by Dr. Seuss and The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost
are poems that deal with the difficulty of making decisions in life. They each present the
situation though a diverging road. Nonetheless, they each have its particularities.
Meanwhile the Zode decided to go the safe way and never got anywhere, the character in
Frosts poem decided to choose the path less transited, a choice that changed his entire
life. Through these poems, a clear human issue is present: making decisions is perplexing.
It is difficult to take correct decisions since the effects cannot be completely envisaged.


Bibliography:
Frost, R. (1920). The Road Not Taken. [Web]. Retrieved from:
http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/15717
Seuss, Dr. (n.d). The Zode In The Road. [Web]. Retreived from:
http://www.sermoncentral.com/sermons/the-zoad-in-the-road-jeff-strite-sermon-on-
discipleship-137697.asp