1. The Road Not Taken Robert Frost

2. Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, Symbol: choices in life / make a decision Symbol: choices in life / make a decision universal questions of life (p.183) universal questions of life (p.183) Feel confused: Am I right? Feel confused: Am I right? In a dilemma: freedom vs. duty In a dilemma: freedom vs. duty ethics vs. peer pressure ethics vs. peer pressure Unable to make a decision  afraid of getting hurt Unable to make a decision  afraid of getting hurt Face major life ritual: teenage  adulthood  fatherhood Face major life ritual: teenage  adulthood  fatherhood

3. 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; Everyone is travelling in the life journey. Everyone is travelling in the life journey. Sometimes we need a rest, taking a breath and thinking about what we ’ re going to do next. Sometimes we need a rest, taking a breath and thinking about what we ’ re going to do next. This is not exactly because of being physically fatigued but perhaps spiritual tiredness. This is not exactly because of being physically fatigued but perhaps spiritual tiredness. Repetition: adding musical quality Repetition: adding musical quality Implied meaning: bent Implied meaning: bent

4. Then took the other, as just as fair, And having perhaps the better claim, Because it was grassy and wanted wear; Suddenly, I made a different decision, Suddenly, I made a different decision, because the second road was just as fair as the first one. because the second road was just as fair as the first one. Or rather, this is more recommendable, desirable, or appealing to me. Or rather, this is more recommendable, desirable, or appealing to me. Personification: road can claim?! Personification: road can claim?! Implied meaning: grassy; wanted wear Implied meaning: grassy; wanted wear

5. Though as for that, the passing there Had worn them really about the same, What is inferred? What is inferred? We are afraid of different outcome, unexpected expectation. We are afraid of different outcome, unexpected expectation. And both that morning equally lay In leaves no step had trodden black. Implied meaning: equally Implied meaning: equally

6. Everyone has equal chance to choose, and that is the freedom we are granted. However, once making the decision, we shouldn ’ t feel regret. We must learn to take responsibility. That is life. Everyone has equal chance to choose, and that is the freedom we are granted. However, once making the decision, we shouldn ’ t feel regret. We must learn to take responsibility. That is life.

7. Oh, I kept the first for another day! Yet knowing how way leads on to way, I doubted if I should ever come back. The speaker finally made the decision. He chose the second one! The speaker finally made the decision. He chose the second one! Though doubtful of the future uncertainty, the speaker realized that s/he couldn ’ t regret once the decision was made. Though doubtful of the future uncertainty, the speaker realized that s/he couldn ’ t regret once the decision was made. Implied meaning: how way leads on to way Implied meaning: how way leads on to way

8. 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. Implied meaning: sigh Implied meaning: sigh The choice/decision made at that moment ( 一念 之間 ) has made all the difference. Whether it is good or not, we all have to take the consequence. The choice/decision made at that moment ( 一念 之間 ) has made all the difference. Whether it is good or not, we all have to take the consequence.

9. The Road Not Taken 『沒有走的路』 『沒有走的路』 What is inferred? What is inferred? The road not taken vs. the road the speaker actually took The road not taken vs. the road the speaker actually took “ Poetry should contain contrasts and lead to a clarifying of experience. ” “ Poetry should contain contrasts and lead to a clarifying of experience. ” 有得必有失，有捨方有得。 有得必有失，有捨方有得。 Though I didn ’ t take the first road, I feel great on another different road. Though I didn ’ t take the first road, I feel great on another different road.

10. Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening Robert Frost

11. Whose woods these are I think I know 原句： I think I know whose woods these are. 原句： I think I know whose woods these are. whose 怎麼來的呢？ whose 怎麼來的呢？ These are someone ’ s woods. => 改成疑問句 These are someone ’ s woods. => 改成疑問句 These are whose woods.  Whose woods are these? These are whose woods.  Whose woods are these? 間接問句不倒裝 : I know whose woods these are. 間接問句不倒裝 : I know whose woods these are. Q: Does the speaker actually get acquainted with the owner of the woods? Q: Does the speaker actually get acquainted with the owner of the woods?

12. His house is in the village though; (so) He will not see me stopping here To watch his woods fill up with snow. though (adv.) = however though (adv.) = however fill up with 也可以改成 become filled up with snow (fill up with 與 be filled up with 通用 ) fill up with 也可以改成 become filled up with snow (fill up with 與 be filled up with 通用 ) 然而阿，林子主人的房子在村莊裡，他不會看 到我停在這裡欣賞這片積雪盈盈的樹林。 然而阿，林子主人的房子在村莊裡，他不會看 到我停在這裡欣賞這片積雪盈盈的樹林。 Q: Can you read between the lines? What comment may the speaker give to the owner of the woods? Q: Can you read between the lines? What comment may the speaker give to the owner of the woods?

13. Q: Why doesn ’ t the poet visit the owner? Instead, he just stopped in the woods to see the falling snow. Whose woods these are I think I know. His house is in the village though; He will not see me stopping here To watch his woods fill up with snow. The poet is not in the mood of visiting people. The poet is not in the mood of visiting people. He probably thinks of the owner of this woods as a short-sighted man who lives in the village, leaving this beauty deserted. He probably thinks of the owner of this woods as a short-sighted man who lives in the village, leaving this beauty deserted.

14. My little horse must think it queer [To stop without a farmhouse near] Between the woods and frozen lake The darkest evening of the year. it  dummy object, referring to [to stop … ] it  dummy object, referring to [to stop … ] think it OC to V / think it OC that 子句 think it OC to V / think it OC that 子句 other verbs ： believe, consider, make, find other verbs ： believe, consider, make, find Ex: 我發現跟 Tom 講話很好玩。 Ex: 我發現跟 Tom 講話很好玩。 I find [to talk with Tom] interesting. I find [to talk with Tom] interesting. = I find it interesting [to talk with Tom]. = I find it interesting [to talk with Tom]. The speaker ’ s horse might think, “ It is dark now. We are surrounded with chilliness and desolation only! Why not keep going? ” So … The speaker ’ s horse might think, “ It is dark now. We are surrounded with chilliness and desolation only! Why not keep going? ” So …

15. He gives his harness bells a shake To ask if there is some mistake. He = the little horse, the only one (visible) companion of the speaker He = the little horse, the only one (visible) companion of the speaker Inference: Even the speaker ’ s fellow traveler (horse) can not understand the speaker ’ s true feeling and intention. Inference: Even the speaker ’ s fellow traveler (horse) can not understand the speaker ’ s true feeling and intention. Thus, here come the following two. Thus, here come the following two. The only other sound is the sweep Of easy wind and downy flake.

16. Q: The poet doesn ’ t respond to his horse. Why? He gives his harness bells a shake To ask if there is some mistake. The only other sound ’ s the sweep Of easy wind and downy flake. It seems very hard for the speaker to find a bosom friend, or a soul mate. It seems very hard for the speaker to find a bosom friend, or a soul mate. Therefore, in the next stanza, s/he mentioned “ I have promises to keep ”  對真正瞭解自己的友人之承諾，在此更可解釋成對 自己的承諾 Therefore, in the next stanza, s/he mentioned “ I have promises to keep ”  對真正瞭解自己的友人之承諾，在此更可解釋成對 自己的承諾 So, what ’ s the exact intention the speaker would like to express? So, what ’ s the exact intention the speaker would like to express? ◆ What penetrates this bleak and desert forest is just the sound made by the quick move of the wind and the soft falling snow in large flakes. ◆ What penetrates this bleak and desert forest is just the sound made by the quick move of the wind and the soft falling snow in large flakes.

17. The woods are lovely, dark and deep, But I have promises to keep, And miles to go before I sleep, And miles to go before I sleep. 儘管這片樹林是多麼地 lovely ，我還是想繼續持守我的諾言，再 走數哩才能安眠。 儘管這片樹林是多麼地 lovely ，我還是想繼續持守我的諾言，再 走數哩才能安眠。 對詩人而言，這片林子是 alluring/fascinating/appealing/attractive 對詩人而言，這片林子是 alluring/fascinating/appealing/attractive 他很想停下來好好欣賞，好好去探險 ( 所以才會說 dark and deep) ， 無奈連他最要好的小馬都不瞭解他的心意，於是，不如信守原 先對自己 ( 或是對他人 ) 的承諾繼續前行，期能日後與知音共同欣 賞這片幽林。 他很想停下來好好欣賞，好好去探險 ( 所以才會說 dark and deep) ， 無奈連他最要好的小馬都不瞭解他的心意，於是，不如信守原 先對自己 ( 或是對他人 ) 的承諾繼續前行，期能日後與知音共同欣 賞這片幽林。 Promise 象徵未盡的責任或一生所追求的理想， miles 則是指奮鬥 的過程， sleep 則有死亡的象徵。 Promise 象徵未盡的責任或一生所追求的理想， miles 則是指奮鬥 的過程， sleep 則有死亡的象徵。  在 enjoy freedom 之前，是得先 fulfill duty ( 履行職責 ) 的  在 enjoy freedom 之前，是得先 fulfill duty ( 履行職責 ) 的

18. Q: What else wisdom can be inferred from this poem? The woods are lovely, dark and deep, But I have promises to keep. And miles to go before I sleep, And miles to go before I sleep. For ordinary people, woods are dreary, dreadful, and dangerous. For ordinary people, woods are dreary, dreadful, and dangerous. But for those who are farsighted, for the greats, for giants, or for anyone who can be appreciative of the nature, But for those who are farsighted, for the greats, for giants, or for anyone who can be appreciative of the nature, lovely: The essence of Nature is beauty. dark: This woods is filled up with challenge. This woods is worth a visit. We must adventure it. deep: profound  We can learn from Nature, which is rich in wisdom and philosophy for human beings. Agree or not? Agree or not?  A good poem begins in delight and ends in wisdom.  A good poem begins in delight and ends in wisdom.

19. The End Q & A