Both of Robert Frost's poems, "Stopping by the Woods on a Snowy Evening," and "The Road Not Taken," depict the poem's author in a state of solitary introspection, when the poet is wandering in nature. "The Road Not Taken" states that the poet, while wandering in the woods, was once faced with a fork in the road. The poet can either decide to take the better-trodden path, or the less well-trodden path. He chooses the latter path, and that, the poet tells the reader, has made all of the difference in his life. Similarly, "Stopping by the Woods on a Snowy Evening" depicts the author, alone and on horseback, riding through the woods. The poet is aware that a local farmer owns the woods. This means that other people are nearby in the farmhouse, although the poet cannot see the owner's dwelling from his vantage point. However, the poet chooses not to stop by the farmhouse, or even stop in the woods. Instead, the poet heads off into the darkness alone. .

             In both symbolic, physical, descriptions of the decisions made by the poet, the natural world symbolizes the poet's inner state of consciousness. In "The Road Not Taken," the two paths before the poet come to symbolize a choice made in the poet's past life. The poet chooses an unconventional existence trodden by few individuals, as opposed to a more accepted path, although he expresses sorrow that he could not "travel both," that is, he cannot dwell with the rest of humanity and still remain a nonconformist upon his less trodden path. In "Stopping by the Woods on a Snowy Evening," the cold, exterior world where the poet dwells in solitude stands in contrast to the farmhouse where the owner of the woods lives. The poet prefers the dark and deep forest, as opposed to a place where other human beings provide warmth and comfort, an outer state that comes to symbolize the poet's estranged relationship with humanity. Instead of expressing personal regret that the poet cannot be inside, the poet says he prefers the woods, even though he assumes that even his confused horse will not agree with him, on such a cold and snowy night.