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Making choices Quote by Paul Murray

“On the way back, Dennis, who has been unusually quiet this lunchtime, speaks up. ‘I’ve been thinking about that Robert Frost poem,’ he says. ‘I don’t think it’s about making choices at all.’ ‘What’s it about, so?’ Geoff says. ‘Anal sex,’ Dennis says. ‘Anal sex?’ ‘How’d’you figure, Dennis?’ ‘Well…” quote by Paul Murray
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““On the way back, Dennis, who has been unusually quiet this lunchtime, speaks up. ‘I’ve been thinking about that Robert Frost poem,’ he says. ‘I don’t think it’s about making choices at all.’ ‘What’s it about, so?’ Geoff says. ‘Anal sex,’ Dennis says. ‘Anal sex?’ ‘How’d’you figure, Dennis?’ ‘Well, once you see it, it’s pretty obvious. Just look at what he says. He’s in a wood, right? He sees two roads in front of him. He takes the one less travelled. What else could it be about?””

Paul Murray

About This Quote

Source Film: The Simpsons, Season 5 Episode “Homer and Apu”, 1993

The quote humorously reinterprets Frost’s poem as a metaphor for sexual preference, highlighting how people can project personal meanings onto ambiguous texts.

In simple terms: A joke about reading hidden sexual meaning into a poem.

Key Takeaway

Question assumptions about symbolic interpretations.

Themes

humor misinterpretation sexuality

Mood

playful irreverent thoughtful

Type

humorous satirical

When to use this quote

  • casual conversation
  • media analysis
  • education
  • creative writing

Key Concepts

literary analysis psychology cultural commentary

Questions to Reflect On

  • How does humor affect our perception of classic literature?
  • When is it appropriate to reinterpret art for comedic effect?
A Different Perspective

The joke may trivialize deeper literary themes and could be offensive to some audiences.

3.6 out of 5 (8 ratings)

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