The Road Not Taken
Uploaded by
charan.divyanshi0025The Road Not Taken
Uploaded by
charan.divyanshi0025The Road Not Taken
-Robert Frost
I. Answer each of these questions in about 30-40 words.
Q1. Where does the traveller find himself? What problem does he face?
Ans: The traveller finds himself at a point in the woods where two roads diverge. The
problem is that he cannot travel both the roads and thus he has to choose one between
them.
Q 2. Discuss what these phrases mean to you.
(i) a yellow wood- The phrase “a yellow wood” indicates a forest during the autumn
season.
(ii) it was grassy and wanted wear- The phrase “it was grassy and wanted wear” means
that the road was full of grass as it has been less travelled. As people haven’t walked on
it, it is yet to wear out.
(iii) the passing there- The phrase “the passing there” refers to people walking on that
road.
(iv) leaves no step had trodden black- “Leaves no step had trodden black” indicates that
the fallen leaves had not been crushed under the feet of the travellers.
(v) how way leads on to way- The phrase “how way leads on to way” means that one road
leads to another. So once the poet has made a choice between the two roads, he wonders
if he will ever be able return to the same spot and choose the other road.
Q 3. Is there any difference between the two roads as the poet describes them:
(i) in stanzas two and three?
Ans: No, there is no difference between the two roads as the poet describes them in
stanzas two and three as he says “the passing there had worn them really about the
same” and that “equally lay in leaves no step had trodden black…”
(ii) in the last two lines of the poem?
Ans: In the last two lines of the poem, the poet indicates a difference between the two
roads as he says that he took the road that was less travelled by and that has made a huge
difference in his journey.
Q 4. What do you think the last two lines of the poem mean? (Looking back, does the
poet regret his choice or accept it?)
Answer: The last two lines of the poem talk about taking a decision and accepting its
consequences- good or bad. The poet chose the road that was less travelled by, which
indicates he took a decision that people would not take generally.
He says in the last line of the poem that his choice of taking the road less travelled by
has made all the difference. He does not seem to regret his choice.
II. Answer the following questions in about 100-120 words.
Q 1. Have you ever had to make a difficult choice (or do you think you will have difficult
choices to make)? How will you make the choice (for what reasons)?
Ans: We all make choices on a daily basis. But I have not had to make a difficult choice
till date.
I will have to face challenges in the years to come as I grow up. Then, I will have to make
difficult choices. I will have to choose my profession, my area of interest, etc. I think
when such a situation comes, I will not just follow the herd. I will think it through and
just like the poet, if required, I will take up the unexplored paths.
Q 2. After you have made a choice do you always think about what might have been, or
do you accept the reality?
Ans: There is no point in regretting or thinking about what might have been. Such
thoughts will always keep us in the hold of the past and never let us see the benefits of
the choices we made. Accepting reality is the best way to overcome any situation.
