Class 12 English Flamingo The Roadside Stand (Robert Frost)

 

NCERT Solutions For Class 12 English

Flamingo

The Roadside Stand (Robert Frost)

 

CONTENTS

 

Ø Theme

Ø Summary

Ø Stanza

Ø Question Answers

Ø Word Meaning

 

THEME

 

Robert Frost's poem "The Roadside Stand" paints a poignant picture of the current dire state of impoverished villagers involved in agriculture, selling their goods at makeshift stalls by the roadside. These villagers invest their entire day in these small stalls, hopeful that travelers passing by will make purchases. Unfortunately, most travelers disregard them, showing no interest in the fresh products and wild berries they offer. To add insult to injury, urban dwellers often mock and insult these struggling villagers.

 

The poet conveys a sense of profound disappointment and calls for the betterment of the villagers' living conditions. However, the situation worsens as many bureaucrats and politicians exploit the plight of the villagers, making empty promises for their own gain. The vulnerable villagers become victims of deception, manipulated for the benefit and personal agendas of these officials. Despite the availability of quality produce, only a few passersby take notice, stopping merely to ask for directions or fuel.

 

The poet experiences deep sadness and entertains thoughts of ending the villagers' suffering through a decisive action. However, he quickly returns to reality, realizing the impracticality of such a solution. Even the poet himself cannot escape the pain, acknowledging the harsh truth of the situation.

 

SUMMARY

 

The occupants of a small, aged dwelling have expanded the front shed, now abutting the road traversed by traffic. It seems as though the shack's proprietors are appealing to those passing by, hoping for purchases. These disadvantaged individuals possess a strong desire for currency. Unfortunately, the passing traffic largely ignores the shack, and even when it does pause, it brings a sense of disappointment. The poorly crafted signboards only add to their distress. At this location, a wooden quart of wild berries is offered for sale, providing a tranquil natural retreat for those who can afford it. The poet expresses frustration at the dismissive attitude of the 'polished traffic' and implores them to move ahead.

 

The poet demonstrates more concern for the sorrow of the shack owners than for the eyesore on the landscape. He believes that these people yearn to handle some city money, hoping it could alleviate their suffering, akin to what is portrayed in movies. The blame for depriving them of a happy life falls on the political party in power.

 

The poet references news about the relocation of poor villagers near shops and theaters, accompanied by promises of good care. However, these promises go unfulfilled, leading the poet to brand the government authorities as "greedy good-doers" and "beasts of prey" exploiting the impoverished villagers. The villagers pay a heavy price, losing their land, and the civic authorities successfully deceive them.

 

The poet highlights a reversal of the norm, where villagers are unable to sleep at night. The shack owners' endless wait for buyers is expressed with a sense of distress, creating an atmosphere of sadness. The poet laments the scarcity of money in the countryside, recognizing its power to uplift spirits. The villagers often bemoan the lack of money in their lives, eliciting deep emotions in the poet. Despite a desire to transform their lives, he acknowledges the futility of such a single-handed effort.

 

In conclusion, the summary of "A Roadside Stand" underscores the stark contrast between the comfortable lives of city dwellers and the hardships faced by impoverished rural individuals.

 

STANZA

 

Stanza 1.

 

The little old house was out with a little new shed

In front at the edge of the road where the traffic sped,

A roadside stand that too pathetically pled,

It would not be fair to say for a dole of bread,

But for some of the money, the cash, whose flow supports

The flower of cities from sinking and withering faint.

 

Questions :

 

1.    Identify the poem and poet.

2.    Where was the new shed located?

3.    What was the house owner's goal in erecting the shed?

4.    What can flowers be compared to?

5.    Find words from the stanza which mean the same as :

(a) Verge

(b) Pitiably

 

Answers:

 

1.    .The poem is titled "A Roadside Stand" and was written by Robert Frost.

2.    The new shed was located on the roadside.

3.     The house owner intended to sell the fruits to make ends meet.

 

4.    By comparing flowers to money, city residents can better manage their daily life.

5.    roadside

pled

 

Stanza 2.

The polished traffic passed with a mind ahead,

Or if ever aside a moment, then out of sorts

Having the landscape marred with the artless paint

Of signs that with N turned wrong and S turned wrong

Offered for sale wild berries in wooden quarts,

Or crook-necked golden squash with silver warts,

 

Questions:

 

1)    What is the poet's name, and what is the poem?

2)    Who is driving the polished vehicles?

3)    Who is there on the stand?

4)    What are the farmers selling?

5)    Find words in the verse that mean the same as bright and harsh.

 

Answers:

 

1)    . The poet's name is Robert Frost, and the poem is titled "A Roadside Stand."

 

2)    The city's wealthy inhabitants drive glossy automobiles.

 

3)    A farmer is selling fruits from the stall.

 

4)    They're selling wild berries and yellow squash.

 

5)    polished and artless paint.

 

Stanza 3.

 

So much as the trusting sorrow of what is unsaid:

Here far from the city, we make our roadside stand

And ask for some city money to feel in the hand

To try if it will not make our expanding,

And give us the life of the moving pictures’ promise

That the party in power is said to be keeping from us.

 

Questions:

 

1)    What is the unspoken sorrow that is discussed?

2)    Is there a roadside stand near the city?

3)    What does the stand's owner desire from city residents?

4)    What promises have the ruling party made?

5)    What words are related in this stanza: agony and commitment?

Answers:

 

1)    The apathy of farmers is addressed.

2)    No, the roadside stand is outside the city.

3)    He wants the city's residents to buy something from his stand.

4)    The ruling party promised the stall owner stores in a developed region.

5)    Pain: sorrow; commitment: promise.

 

Stanza 4.

 

It is in the news that all these pitiful kin

Are to be bought out and mercifully gathered in

To live in villages, next to the theatre and the store,

Where they won’t have to think for themselves anymore,

While greedy good-doers, beneficent beasts of prey,

Swarm over their lives enforcing benefits

That is calculated to soothe them out of their wits,

And by teaching them how to sleep they sleep all day,

Destroy their sleeping at night the ancient way.

 

Questions

 

1)    What's in the newspaper?

2)    Where will the stand owner receive merchandise?

3)    Why are city dwellers termed "greedy good-doers"?

4)    Who are the benevolent prey animals?

5)    Write the antonyms for the following words: beast and greedy.

6)    Explain the phrase 'Destroy their slumber at night the ancient way'.

 

Answers:

 

1)    According to the newspaper, stand holders would be assigned to stores near the theatre.

2)    The stand owners will have shops in a developed area.

3)    They are termed greedy because they never care about the poor. They promised that underprivileged people live a nice life and get enough sleep. But this never happens.

4)    City dwellers are referred to as "beasts of prey" because they make false promises to rural residents in order to obtain benefits.

5)    Beast: pet; greedy; truthful.

6)    A man can easily fall asleep at night after a long day's work. Unfortunately, some cannot sleep at night because they do not work hard. People used to sleep at night, but this has changed because people no longer work during the day. So they are unable to sleep at night.

 

Stanza 5.

 

Sometimes I feel myself I can hardly bear

The thought of so much childish longing in vain,

The sadness that lurks near the open window there,

That waits all day in almost open prayer

For the squeal of brakes, the sound of a stopping car,

Of all the thousand selfish cars that pass,

Just one to inquire what a farmer’s prices are.

 

Questions:

 

1)    What was painful to the poet?

2)    What was the poet's childhood longing?

3)    Why was there sadness on the stand?

4)    What did the farmer pray for?

5)    Why are individuals in vehicles labeled selfish?

6)    What were the people asking about?

7)    Which word has the same meaning as “longing, futile”?

 

Answers:

 

1)    The poet found the farmer's apathy insufferable.

2)    The poet wanted people to come and buy fruits from the stall.

3)    There was grief in the stand since no one came to buy the fruits from the farmer.

4)    The farmer prayed for a sale of his products.

5)    People in cars are labeled selfish because they are unconcerned with the farmer's disinterest.

6)    People were only asking about the prices of the things.

7)    Longing: Wish; futile: vain.

 

Stanza 6.

 

The requisite lift of spirit has never been found,

Or so the voice of the country seems to complain,

I can’t help owning the great relief it would be

To put these people at one stroke out of their pain.

And then the next day as I come back into the sane,

I wonder how I should like you to come to me

And offer to put me gently out of my pain.

 

Questions:

 

1)    What is the "requisite lift of spirit" that the poet refers to?

2)    What was the farmer's complaint?

3)    What does the poet say to the farmers?

4)    What is the name of the poem and who wrote it?

5)    Write synonyms for words like “requisite” and “pain.”

 

Answers:

 

1)    The courage to solve a farmer's difficulties.

2)    The farmer laments about people's apathetic attitude towards them.

3)    The poet wished that the farmers' quarrel could be resolved in a single stroke.

4)    The poem is titled "A Roadside Stand," and it was written by Robert Frost.

5)    The synonyms for these words are “requirement” and “problem.”

 

 

QUESTION ANSWERS

 

Question 1: The urban travelers passing through the rural landscape scarcely acknowledged the roadside stand or its operators. If they did take notice, it was typically to express dissatisfaction. Which verses convey this sentiment, and what specifically were their grievances?

Answer: The lines that convey this sentiment are as follows -

The polished traffic passed with a mind ahead,

Or if ever aside a moment, then out of sorts

At having the landscape marred with the artless paint

Their complaint revolved around the roadside stands, which they believed detracted from the beauty of the landscape.

Question 2: What was the appeal of the individuals who had established the roadside stand?

Answer: They called for a flow of currency from urbanites' pockets into their own hands so that they may put the money to good use. Their objective was to literally hold the money in their hands.

Question 3: What does the poet mean by the 'childish longing' and why is it considered 'vain'?

AnswerThe 'childish longing' refers to the shed owner's expectation that cars will stop by to make purchases or inquire about the cost of the farmer's produce. It is considered 'vain' because, despite waiting with open windows and praying all day, no automobiles stop by, rendering their efforts ineffective.

Question 4: Which lines convey the unbearable anguish the poet experiences when contemplating the plight of the rural poor?

Answer: The lines expressing the poet's sentiment are:

I can't help owning the great relief it would be

To put these people at one stroke out of their pain.

 

WORD MEANING

 

Beast of Prey: an animal killing other animal

Beneficent: generous or doing good

Crossly: in an annoyed or angry way

Dole of Bread: a tiny portion of bread

In vain: without success or a result

Kin: One’s family and relations

Lurk: to wait somewhere secretly

Marred: Spoilt

Out of their wits: their perplexed or terrified state

Pathetically: in a way that arouses pity, especially by displaying sadness

Plow: move in a fast and uncontrolled manner

Requisite: required/needed

Sane: sensible/realistic

Squash: here fruit

Warts: A small growth on the outer surface