The Hiker is a nameless traveler of indeterminate age and gender walking through a monochromatic yellow wood. Confronted with an unexpected split in the path, he becomes momentarily paralyzed by indecision, treating a simple choice as a massive predicament. He attempts to use logic and foresight to select the better route but ultimately makes an impulsive decision based on blind chance.

Edward Thomas is a young aspiring poet who pursues various writing opportunities, such as travel essays and book reviews, to support his family. During meandering walks in the Gloucestershire countryside, his habit of lingering and agonizing over which path to follow inspires the central narrative of the poem. He struggles with significant life decisions regarding his family, his career, and the ongoing war.

Robert Frost is a seasoned poet in his forties who holds a complex, somewhat ironic view of human decision-making. As the overarching authority behind the poem, he observes the human tendency to inflate the importance of trivial choices. He designs the poem as a friendly jibe at his indecisive companion, utilizing conventional poetic forms to deliver subtle, modern irony.