In Frost, one traveler faces two roads and says he could not travel both. In the poem's extended metaphor, what do the roads stand for?

Frost's traveler looks down one road only until it bends 'in the undergrowth.' What idea does that image carry in the metaphor?

Frost's traveler keeps the first road 'for another day,' then says, 'knowing how way leads on to way, I doubted if I should ever come back.' What idea does this add to the metaphor?

In Whitman's Lincoln elegy, the ship has survived a fearful trip and nears port. What does the ship image stand for?

Whitman's captain lies on the deck while bells ring and crowds cheer. In the extended metaphor, what does the fallen captain stand for?

Whitman writes of the port, bells, flag, bugle, and crowding shores. What part of the metaphor do those images build?

A popular reading says Frost praises the brave choice of a unique path. What reading is better supported by 'really about the same' and 'equally lay'?

Frost predicts he will tell the story 'with a sigh' long afterward. What reading do those words support?

The title is 'The Road Not Taken,' but the speaker later names the road he took. What reading does the title support?

Whitman says the ship is 'anchor'd safe' and its 'object won.' What reading do those lines support?

Whitman's speaker cries, 'Here Captain! dear father!' and holds the captain's head. What does calling the captain 'father' add to the metaphor?

In Frost's final stanza, the speaker moves from standing in the woods to imagining a story told 'ages and ages hence.' What does that shift do?

Frost's speaker opens by saying he was 'sorry I could not travel both' and 'long I stood' before choosing. What do these lines show about him?

Earlier Frost says the roads are about the same; in the final stanza he says one was 'less traveled.' What does that shift suggest?

In Whitman's last stanza, the speaker stops pleading 'rise up' and says the captain does not answer. What does this shift do?

Whitman's final stanza says, 'Exult O shores,' then 'I with mournful tread' walk the deck. What does this shift emphasize?

How do Frost and Whitman both use an extended metaphor to carry meaning?

Frost repeats roads, travel, and ways; Whitman repeats ship, captain, deck, and port. What shared method sustains each metaphor?

What is a key difference between the two poems' metaphors?

A familiar misreading treats Frost as simple advice to choose the unpopular path and Whitman as only a sea story. What comparison best avoids those misreadings?